Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in India
India: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 87.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in India, 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 India stood at 87.4%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 25.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in India peaked at 87.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2000.
India ranks 116th 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.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 48.1% | — |
| 2001 | 49.1% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 52.0% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 53.5% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 55.1% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 56.6% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 59.8% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 61.4% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 63.0% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 64.7% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 66.4% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 68.1% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 69.8% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 71.5% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 73.2% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 75.0% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 76.8% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 78.6% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 80.4% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 82.3% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 84.1% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 86.0% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 87.4% | +1.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 87.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- India's 87.4% is above the median for South Asia, which is 85.6%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.4% | 48.1% | 61.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 63.0% | 78.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.0% | 80.4% | 87.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More population data for India
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.4607 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.2494 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 66.77 million people (2100)
- Population density 506.27 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7665 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in India?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in India was 87.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 87.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2000.
- How does India rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- India ranks 116th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.