Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan
Bhutan: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 83.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan is 83.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan peaked at 83.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 69.3%, in 2000.
That places Bhutan 121st out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.3% | — |
| 2001 | 69.3% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 69.7% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 70.2% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 70.6% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 71.0% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 71.5% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 71.9% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 72.3% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 73.0% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 73.7% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 74.4% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 75.1% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 75.9% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 76.6% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 77.3% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 78.0% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 78.7% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 79.5% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 80.2% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 80.9% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 81.7% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 82.4% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 83.2% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 83.9% | +0.9% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 83.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 83.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 85.6%, 98% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.9% | 69.3% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.9% | 73.7% | 80.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.4% | 80.9% | 83.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More population data for Bhutan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7852 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.716 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0644 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.716 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 27,662 people (2100)
- Population density 18.1 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5679 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5776 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Bhutan was 83.9% 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 share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 83.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.3% in 2000.
- How does Bhutan rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Bhutan ranks 121st out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan 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 Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.