People practicing open defecation, urban in South Asia
South Asia: People practicing open defecation, urban was 0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People practicing open defecation, urban in South Asia, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 0.1% for people practicing open defecation, urban in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 79.5% on the previous year and down 99.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation, urban in South Asia peaked at 23.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2024.
South Asia ranks 35th of 47 groups on this measure, 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, urban in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 23.1% | — |
| 2001 | 22.1% | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 21.1% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 20.1% | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 19.1% | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 18.1% | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 17.1% | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 15.1% | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 14.1% | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 13.1% | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 12.1% | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 11.2% | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 10.2% | -8.8% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | -10.7% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | -13.6% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -15.8% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | -18.7% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | -23.0% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -29.4% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | -41.6% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -71.4% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -79.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.6% | 14.1% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 4.3% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 0.1% | 3.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per capita 0.022 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 2.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0182 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 2.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 2.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0146 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation, urban in South Asia?
- People practicing open defecation, urban in South Asia 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, urban recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation, urban recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2024.
- How does South Asia rank for people practicing open defecation, urban?
- South Asia ranks 35th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people practicing open defecation, urban rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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, urban (% of urban 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.