Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in China
China: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 98.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in China, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 98.4% for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in China peaked at 98.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 77.7%, in 2000.
China ranks 64th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 81.7% | 77.7% | 85.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 90.7% | 86.6% | 94.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.4% | 95.7% | 98.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 303,405 people (2020)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.2% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in China?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in China was 98.4% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 98.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.7% in 2000.
- How does China rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- China ranks 64th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.