People using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): People using at least basic sanitation services, urban was 50.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services, urban 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 urban population.
Analysis
In 2024, people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 50.6%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 50.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 2000.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 42nd out of 47 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, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.8% | — |
| 2001 | 36.0% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 36.4% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 36.9% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 37.4% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 38.0% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 38.6% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 39.2% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 39.8% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 40.5% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 41.2% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 41.7% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 42.4% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 43.1% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 43.9% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 44.6% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 45.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 46.2% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 46.9% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 47.7% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 48.4% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 49.2% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 50.1% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 50.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 50.6% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.8% | 35.8% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.3% | 41.2% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.7% | 48.4% | 50.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.024 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 3.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0282 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 2.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 35-39, female, per capita 0.0287 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 50.6% 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, urban recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 50.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, urban recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, urban?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. 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, urban (% of urban 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.