People using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: 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, 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
The most recent figure for people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa is 50.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 peaked at 50.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa 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, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.5639 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0181 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, urban?
- Sub-Saharan Africa 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?
- 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 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.