People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): People using at least basic sanitation services was 37.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 37.1% for people using at least basic sanitation services in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 37.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 42nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.9% | — |
| 2001 | 22.2% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 22.6% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 23.1% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 23.6% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 24.8% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 25.5% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 26.1% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 26.8% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 27.5% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 27.9% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 28.6% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 29.3% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 30.1% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 30.8% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 31.6% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 32.4% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 33.1% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 33.8% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 34.6% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 35.4% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 36.3% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 36.6% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 37.1% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.1% | 21.9% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.5% | 27.5% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.0% | 34.6% | 37.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 70-74, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0074 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0062 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0051 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, male, annual growth rate 3.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0023 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 37.1% 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 using at least basic sanitation services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for people using at least basic sanitation services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
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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.