People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: People using at least basic sanitation services was 37.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
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 using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 37.1%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is 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 peaked at 37.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2000.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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, 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
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.5639 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population, male, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, male, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- People using at least basic sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.