People practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: People practicing open defecation, rural was 36.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
People practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central is 36.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central peaked at 44.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 36.0%, in 2024.
That places Africa Western and Central 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 44.6% | — |
| 2001 | 44.3% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 44.0% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 43.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 43.3% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 42.9% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 42.6% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 42.3% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 41.9% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 41.5% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 41.2% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 40.8% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 40.5% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 40.1% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 39.7% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 39.3% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 39.0% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 38.6% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 37.8% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 37.0% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 36.7% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 36.4% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 36.0% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.1% | 41.5% | 44.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.5% | 37.8% | 41.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.7% | 36.0% | 37.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0237 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, annual growth rate 2.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.27 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central?
- People practicing open defecation, rural in Africa Western and Central was 36.0% 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, rural recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 44.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation, rural recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.0% in 2024.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for people practicing open defecation, rural?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people practicing open defecation, rural rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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, rural (% of rural 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.