Using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya
Kenya: Using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population was 27.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya stood at 27.9%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya peaked at 27.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 19.3%, in 2000.
That places Kenya 101st out of 124 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.3% | — |
| 2001 | 19.7% | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 20.2% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 20.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 21.1% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 21.6% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 22.0% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 22.5% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 22.8% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 23.1% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 23.4% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 23.7% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 24.1% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 24.4% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 24.7% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 25.0% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 25.3% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 25.9% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 26.3% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 26.6% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 26.9% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 27.5% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 27.9% | +1.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 27.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.8%, 68% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 27.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.1%, 96% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.3% | 19.3% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.8% | 23.4% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.2% | 26.6% | 27.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 98 Thailand 30.7% compare
- 99 Guinea-Bissau 30.4% compare
- 100 El Salvador 28.9% compare
- 102 Senegal 27.5% compare
- 103 Kiribati 25.3% compare
- 104 Afghanistan 24.9% compare
More population data for Kenya
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1094 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0288 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.40 million people (2100)
- Population density 183.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7363 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya?
- Using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population in Kenya was 27.9% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 27.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.3% in 2000.
- How does Kenya rank for using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population?
- Kenya ranks 101st out of 124 countries with data for 2024.
- Is using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Using safely managed sanitation facilities: urban vs. rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed in situ or transported and treated off-site.