People using at least basic sanitation services in South Asia
South Asia: People using at least basic sanitation services was 82.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services 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 population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic sanitation services in South Asia is 82.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 51.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services in South Asia peaked at 82.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.6%, in 2000.
That places South Asia 27th out of 45 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation services in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.6% | — |
| 2001 | 19.1% | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 21.6% | +13.5% |
| 2003 | 24.2% | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 26.8% | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 29.4% | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 32.1% | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 37.5% | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 40.2% | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 42.9% | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 45.7% | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 48.4% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 51.2% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 54.0% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 56.8% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 59.7% | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 62.5% | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 65.4% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 68.3% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 71.1% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 73.9% | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 76.6% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 79.4% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 82.0% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.2% | 16.6% | 40.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.5% | 42.9% | 68.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.6% | 71.1% | 82.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 24 Spain 99.9% compare
- 25 Switzerland 99.9% compare
- 26 Italy 99.9% compare
- 27 Northern Mariana Islands 99.8% compare
- 28 Belarus 99.7% compare
- 29 Turkmenistan 99.7% compare
- 30 Republic of Korea 99.7% compare
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 4.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.3313 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 1.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.035 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.3493 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0385 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services in South Asia?
- People using at least basic sanitation services in South Asia was 82.0% 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 using at least basic sanitation services recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 2000.
- How does South Asia rank for people using at least basic sanitation services?
- South Asia ranks 27th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 using at least basic sanitation services (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The percentage of people using at least basic sanitation services, that is, improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households. This indicator encompasses both people using basic sanitation services as well as those using safely managed sanitation services. Improved sanitation facilities include flush/pour flush to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; ventilated improved pit latrines, composting toilets or pit latrines with slabs.