People practicing open defecation (% of population) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: People practicing open defecation (% of population) was 0.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
People practicing open defecation in Saudi Arabia, 2016–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2024, people practicing open defecation in Saudi Arabia stood at 0.1%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation in Saudi Arabia peaked at 0.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 110th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
People practicing open defecation (% of population) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | — |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -1.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 0.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.1%, 2.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 107 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 0.1%
- 108 Palestine 0.1% compare
- 109 Bahamas 0.1%
- 111 North Macedonia 0.1% compare
- 112 Tonga 0.1% compare
- 113 Qatar 0.1% compare
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 829 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 0.0401 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation in Saudi Arabia?
- People practicing open defecation in Saudi Arabia was 0.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2016.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for people practicing open defecation?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 110th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.