Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 99.0% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
99.0%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
45th
of 186 countries
All-time high
99.0%
in 2000
All-time low
99.0%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in United Kingdom, 2000–2024

0204060801002000201220242000: 99 %2001: 99 %2002: 99 %2003: 99 %2004: 99 %2005: 99 %2006: 99 %2007: 99 %2008: 99 %2009: 99 %2010: 99 %2011: 99 %2012: 99 %2013: 99 %2014: 99 %2015: 99 %2016: 99 %2017: 99 %2018: 99 %2019: 99 %2020: 99 %2021: 99 %2022: 99 %2023: 99 %2024: 99 %

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 United Kingdom is 99.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in United Kingdom peaked at 99.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 99.0%, in 2000.

United Kingdom ranks 45th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 99.0% 99.0% 99.0% 10
2010s 99.0% 99.0% 99.0% 10
2020s 99.0% 99.0% 99.0% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 42 Greece 99.2% compare
  2. 43 Palau 99.1% compare
  3. 44 Uruguay 99.1% compare
  4. 46 United Arab Emirates 99.0% compare
  5. 47 Czechia 99.0% compare
  6. 48 Estonia 98.9% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More population data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in United Kingdom?
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in United Kingdom was 99.0% 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 United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 99.0% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 99.0% in 2000.
How does United Kingdom rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
United Kingdom ranks 45th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom 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

Indicator
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation
Unit
%
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 4,556 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.