People practicing open defecation (% of population) in Pakistan
Pakistan: People practicing open defecation (% of population) was 8.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
People practicing open defecation in Pakistan, 2000–2024
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 Pakistan is 8.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 10.5% on the previous year and down 54.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation in Pakistan peaked at 29.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2024.
That places Pakistan 35th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People practicing open defecation (% of population) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.4% | — |
| 2001 | 29.3% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 29.3% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 29.2% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 28.1% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 27.1% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 25.0% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 23.0% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 22.0% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 20.9% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 19.9% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 17.9% | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 16.9% | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 15.9% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 14.0% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 10.1% | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 8.2% | -10.5% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 8.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 8.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.1%, 149.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.0% | 23.0% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 13.0% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 8.2% | 12.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 32 Micronesia (country) 9.5% compare
- 33 Laos 8.7% compare
- 34 Congo 8.4% compare
- 36 East Timor 7.9% compare
- 37 Guinea-Bissau 7.7% compare
- 38 Bolivia 7.1% compare
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 55,286 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0643 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation in Pakistan?
- People practicing open defecation in Pakistan was 8.2% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 29.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2024.
- How does Pakistan rank for people practicing open defecation?
- Pakistan ranks 35th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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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About this data
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.