People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in India

India: People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 was 59.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
59.6%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
11th
of 97 countries
All-time high
87.1%
in 2000
All-time low
59.6%
in 2017
Years of data
18
2000–2017

People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in India, 2000–2017

0204060802000200820172000: 87.12001: 87.12002: 87.12003: 87.12004: 87.12005: 852006: 82.92007: 80.82008: 78.62009: 76.52010: 74.42011: 72.32012: 70.22013: 68.12014: 662015: 63.92016: 61.82017: 59.6

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).

Analysis

In 2017, people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in India stood at 59.6%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 26.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in India peaked at 87.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 59.6%, in 2017.

That places India 11th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in India, year by year

Annual values for People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in India, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 87.1%
2001 87.1% +0.0%
2002 87.1% +0.0%
2003 87.1% +0.0%
2004 87.1% +0.0%
2005 85.0% -2.4%
2006 82.9% -2.5%
2007 80.8% -2.5%
2008 78.6% -2.6%
2009 76.5% -2.7%
2010 74.4% -2.8%
2011 72.3% -2.8%
2012 70.2% -2.9%
2013 68.1% -3.0%
2014 66.0% -3.1%
2015 63.9% -3.2%
2016 61.8% -3.3%
2017 59.6% -3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 83.9% 76.5% 87.1% 10
2010s 67.0% 59.6% 74.4% 8

Countries ranked near India

  1. 8 Sao Tome and Principe 65.1% compare
  2. 9 Madagascar 60.0% compare
  3. 10 Cambodia 59.8% compare
  4. 12 Liberia 59.0% compare
  5. 13 Angola 51.0% compare
  6. 14 Lesotho 48.4% compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More health data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in India?
People practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in India was 59.6% 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): q2 recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 87.1% in 2000.
What is the lowest people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 59.6% in 2017.
How does India rank for people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2?
India ranks 11th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this India 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): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in India. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-practicing-open-defecation-percent-of-population-q2/india/

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About this data

Indicator
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
97 places, 1,672 data points, 2000–2017
Last refreshed