People practicing open defecation in Eswatini

Eswatini: People practicing open defecation was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.4%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
92nd
of 214 countries
All-time high
22.1%
in 2000
All-time low
0.4%
in 2022
Years of data
25
2000–2024

People practicing open defecation in Eswatini, 2000–2024

051015202000201220242000: 22.1 % of population2001: 21.1 % of population2002: 20.2 % of population2003: 19.2 % of population2004: 18.2 % of population2005: 17.3 % of population2006: 16.3 % of population2007: 15.3 % of population2008: 14.3 % of population2009: 13.2 % of population2010: 12.2 % of population2011: 11.2 % of population2012: 10.2 % of population2013: 9.2 % of population2014: 8.2 % of population2015: 7.2 % of population2016: 6.2 % of population2017: 5.2 % of population2018: 4.2 % of population2019: 3.3 % of population2020: 2.3 % of population2021: 1.3 % of population2022: 0.358 % of population2023: 0.359 % of population2024: 0.359 % of population

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of population.

Analysis

The most recent figure for people practicing open defecation in Eswatini is 0.4%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 95.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation in Eswatini peaked at 22.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2022.

That places Eswatini 92nd out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

People practicing open defecation in Eswatini, year by year

Annual values for People practicing open defecation (% of population) in Eswatini, 2000 to 2024.
Year % of population Change
2000 22.1%
2001 21.1% -4.3%
2002 20.2% -4.5%
2003 19.2% -4.8%
2004 18.2% -5.0%
2005 17.3% -5.3%
2006 16.3% -5.6%
2007 15.3% -6.0%
2008 14.3% -6.8%
2009 13.2% -7.2%
2010 12.2% -7.7%
2011 11.2% -8.3%
2012 10.2% -9.0%
2013 9.2% -9.8%
2014 8.2% -10.9%
2015 7.2% -12.1%
2016 6.2% -13.8%
2017 5.2% -15.9%
2018 4.2% -18.8%
2019 3.3% -23.1%
2020 2.3% -29.9%
2021 1.3% -42.5%
2022 0.4% -72.7%
2023 0.4% +0.1%
2024 0.4% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17.7% 13.2% 22.1% 10
2010s 7.7% 3.3% 12.2% 10
2020s 0.9% 0.4% 2.3% 5

Countries ranked near Eswatini

  1. 89 Nepal 0.5% compare
  2. 90 Tajikistan 0.5% compare
  3. 91 Iran 0.4% compare
  4. 93 Malaysia 0.3% compare
  5. 94 Paraguay 0.3% compare
  6. 95 South Africa 0.3% compare

See the full ranking of 261 places →

More health data for Eswatini

All data for Eswatini →

Frequently asked questions

What is people practicing open defecation in Eswatini?
People practicing open defecation in Eswatini was 0.4% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest people practicing open defecation recorded in Eswatini?
The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 2000.
What is the lowest people practicing open defecation recorded in Eswatini?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2022.
How does Eswatini rank for people practicing open defecation?
Eswatini ranks 92nd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
Is people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Eswatini?
Over the last ten years it is down 95.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Eswatini data come from?
The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People practicing open defecation (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People practicing open defecation in Eswatini. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-practicing-open-defecation-percent-of-population/eswatini/

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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.