People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q1 (lowest) (Q1) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q1 (lowest) (Q1) was 18.4% in 2017. ▼ Falling
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q1 in Afghanistan, 2004–2017
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Measured in lowest.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 in Afghanistan is 18.4%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is down 11.3% on the previous year and down 53.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 in Afghanistan peaked at 39.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 18.4%, in 2017.
That places Afghanistan 49th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q1 (lowest) (Q1) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | lowest | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 39.6% | — |
| 2005 | 39.6% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 39.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 39.6% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 39.6% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 34.9% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 32.6% | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 30.2% | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 27.9% | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 25.5% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 23.2% | -9.2% |
| 2016 | 20.8% | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | -11.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 18.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 50.1%, 37% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 18.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.8%, 3.2× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.2% | 37.3% | 39.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 26.7% | 18.4% | 34.9% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 in Afghanistan?
- People practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 in Afghanistan was 18.4% in 2017, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).
- What is the highest people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 39.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.4% in 2017.
- How does Afghanistan rank for people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1?
- Afghanistan ranks 49th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q1 rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org), published as part of People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q1 (lowest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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