Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Congo

Congo: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 27.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
27.2%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
181st
of 186 countries
All-time high
27.2%
in 2017
All-time low
16.3%
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Congo, 2000–2021

01020302000201020212000: 16.3 %2001: 16.3 %2002: 16.7 %2003: 17.1 %2004: 17.8 %2005: 18.5 %2006: 19.1 %2007: 19.8 %2008: 20.5 %2009: 21.2 %2010: 21.9 %2011: 22.6 %2012: 23.4 %2013: 24.1 %2014: 24.9 %2015: 25.6 %2016: 26.4 %2017: 27.2 %2018: 27.2 %2019: 27.2 %2020: 27.2 %2021: 27.2 %

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 Congo is 27.2%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

The figure is up 20.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Congo peaked at 27.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 16.3%, in 2000.

Congo ranks 181st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.3% 16.3% 21.2% 10
2010s 25.1% 21.9% 27.2% 10
2020s 27.2% 27.2% 27.2% 2

Countries ranked near Congo

  1. 178 Uganda 32.6% compare
  2. 179 Haiti 32.4% compare
  3. 180 Benin 32.4% compare
  4. 182 Central African Republic 24.5% compare
  5. 183 Ethiopia 24.1% compare
  6. 184 Madagascar 22.2% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More population data for Congo

All data for Congo →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Congo?
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Congo was 27.2% in 2021, 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 Congo?
The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2017.
What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Congo?
The lowest recorded value was 16.3% in 2000.
How does Congo rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
Congo ranks 181st out of 186 countries with data for 2021.
Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Congo?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Congo 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

Indicator
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation
Unit
%
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 4,556 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.