Ghana vs Nigeria: People practicing open defecation

Ghana
17.8%
in 2024
Nigeria
18.0%
in 2024
Ghana rank
17th
Nigeria rank
16th

People practicing open defecation over time

  • Ghana
  • Nigeria
0510152025200020122024

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 18.0% against 17.8% in Ghana, a difference of 0.2%.

Across all 25 years both countries report, Nigeria has been ahead every year.

Ghana ranks 17th and Nigeria ranks 16th of 214 countries.

Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ghana Nigeria Difference Ahead
2000s 19.8% 23.3% 3.5% Nigeria
2010s 18.7% 20.6% 1.9% Nigeria
2020s 18.0% 18.5% 0.5% Nigeria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people practicing open defecation, Ghana or Nigeria?
Nigeria, at 18.0% against 17.8% in Ghana as of 2024.
What is the difference in people practicing open defecation between Ghana and Nigeria?
0.2%, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ghana and Nigeria?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Ghana and Nigeria rank globally for people practicing open defecation?
Ghana ranks 17th and Nigeria ranks 16th of 214 countries.
Where does this data come from?
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as People practicing open defecation (% of population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ghana vs Nigeria: People practicing open defecation. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/people-practicing-open-defecation-percent-of-population/ghana/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
People practicing open defecation (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
261 places, 6,240 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

People practicing open defecation refers to the percentage of the population defecating in the open, such as in fields, forest, bushes, open bodies of water, on beaches, in other open spaces or disposed of with solid waste.