Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Namibia
Namibia: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 50.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Namibia, 2000–2024
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 Namibia is 50.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Namibia peaked at 58.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 50.2%, in 2024.
Namibia ranks 159th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 58.8% | — |
| 2001 | 58.4% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 58.0% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 57.6% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 57.2% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 56.8% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 56.4% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 56.0% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 55.6% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 55.2% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 54.8% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 54.4% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 54.0% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 53.6% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 53.3% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 52.9% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 52.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 52.1% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 51.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 51.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 51.2% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 50.9% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 50.7% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 50.4% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 50.2% | -0.5% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 50.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 77% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 50.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 57.0% | 55.2% | 58.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.1% | 51.5% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.7% | 50.2% | 51.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 156 Niger 53.1% compare
- 157 Sao Tome and Principe 51.3% compare
- 158 Vanuatu 50.8% compare
- 160 Kiribati 49.3% compare
- 161 Papua New Guinea 48.5% compare
- 162 Burkina Faso 48.4% compare
More population data for Namibia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.6736 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1475 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,780 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4525 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 7.16 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 357,079 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Namibia?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Namibia was 50.2% 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.2% in 2024.
- How does Namibia rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Namibia ranks 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.