Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Ghana
Ghana: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 37.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Ghana, 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, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Ghana stood at 37.0%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Ghana peaked at 37.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.6%, in 2000.
Ghana ranks 175th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.6% | — |
| 2001 | 10.6% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 11.7% | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 12.8% | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 13.9% | +8.6% |
| 2005 | 15.0% | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 16.1% | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 17.2% | +6.9% |
| 2008 | 18.3% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 19.5% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 20.6% | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 21.7% | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 22.9% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 24.0% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 25.2% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 26.3% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 29.8% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 31.0% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 32.2% | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 33.4% | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 34.6% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 35.8% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 37.0% | +3.4% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 37.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 57% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 37.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 76% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.6% | 10.6% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.8% | 20.6% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 32.2% | 37.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More population data for Ghana
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2469 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.28 million people (2100)
- Population density 296.87 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5066 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.76 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Ghana?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Ghana was 37.0% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 37.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.6% in 2000.
- How does Ghana rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Ghana ranks 175th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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.