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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 236,763 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
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.