Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 61.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Cameroon, 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 Cameroon is 61.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Cameroon peaked at 61.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53.7%, in 2000.
That places Cameroon 146th out of 186 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.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 53.7% | — |
| 2001 | 53.8% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 53.8% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 54.2% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 54.6% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 54.9% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 55.3% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 55.7% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 56.0% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 56.4% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 56.7% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 57.1% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 57.5% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 57.8% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 58.2% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 58.6% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 59.0% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 59.3% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 59.7% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 60.1% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 60.4% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 60.8% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 61.2% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 61.6% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 61.9% | +0.6% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 61.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 95% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 61.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.8% | 53.7% | 56.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.4% | 56.7% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.2% | 60.4% | 61.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More population data for Cameroon
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5077 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 51,280 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1831 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 188.01 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.42 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Cameroon?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Cameroon was 61.9% 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.7% in 2000.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Cameroon ranks 146th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.
Download this data
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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.