People using safely managed sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: People using safely managed sanitation services, urban was 32.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using safely managed 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
In 2024, people using safely managed sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 32.2%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using safely managed sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 32.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.7%, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 28th of 30 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 safely managed sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.7% | — |
| 2001 | 22.8% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 23.0% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 23.3% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 23.6% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 23.9% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 24.3% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 24.6% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 25.0% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 25.4% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 25.7% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 26.0% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 26.3% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 27.1% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 27.6% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 28.2% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 29.3% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 29.9% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 30.5% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 31.2% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 31.9% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 32.0% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 32.2% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.9% | 22.7% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.6% | 25.7% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.5% | 30.5% | 32.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0142 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.0323 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0181 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using safely managed sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- People using safely managed sanitation services, urban in Sub-Saharan Africa was 32.2% 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 safely managed sanitation services, urban recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using safely managed sanitation services, urban recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.7% in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for people using safely managed sanitation services, urban?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 28th out of 30 groups with data for 2024.
- Is people using safely managed sanitation services, urban rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.9%. 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 safely managed 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 improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed of in situ or transported and treated offsite. 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.