Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 59.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nigeria, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 59.1% 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 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nigeria peaked at 59.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 28.3%, in 2000.
Nigeria ranks 149th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 28.3% | — |
| 2001 | 28.5% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 29.7% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 31.0% | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 32.2% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 33.5% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 34.8% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 36.1% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 37.5% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 38.8% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 40.2% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 41.5% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 42.9% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 44.3% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 45.7% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 47.2% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 48.6% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 50.1% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 51.5% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 53.0% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 54.5% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 56.0% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 57.6% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 59.1% | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 59.1% | +0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 59.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 91% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 59.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.0% | 28.3% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.5% | 40.2% | 53.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.3% | 54.5% | 59.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More population data for Nigeria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1509 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 377,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.22 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5063 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 523.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.05 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nigeria?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Nigeria was 59.1% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 59.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.3% in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Nigeria ranks 149th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.