Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nepal
Nepal: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 82.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nepal, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 82.7% for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 38.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nepal peaked at 82.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 33.4%, in 2000.
Nepal ranks 126th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.4% | — |
| 2001 | 35.1% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 36.8% | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 38.5% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 40.3% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 42.2% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 44.0% | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 45.9% | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 47.8% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 49.8% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 53.8% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 55.8% | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 57.9% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 60.0% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 62.1% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 64.3% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 66.5% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 68.7% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 71.0% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 73.3% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 75.6% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 77.9% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 80.3% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 82.7% | +3.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 82.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 82.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 85.6%, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.4% | 33.4% | 49.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.2% | 51.7% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.0% | 73.3% | 82.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 123 Peru 83.5% compare
- 124 Cayman Islands 83.2% compare
- 125 Pakistan 83.0% compare
- 127 Marshall Islands 82.0% compare
- 128 Mauritania 81.5% compare
- 129 Sudan 81.1% compare
More population data for Nepal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0333 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.41 million people (2100)
- Population density 222.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nepal?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nepal was 82.7% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 82.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.4% in 2000.
- How does Nepal rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Nepal ranks 126th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.