People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water was 36.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
36.6%
Change on year
up 3.8%
Rank
23rd
of 31 groups
All-time high
36.6%
in 2024
All-time low
26.1%
in 2010
Years of data
15
2010–2024

People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries, 2010–2024

0102030402010201720242010: 26.1 % of population2011: 27.2 % of population2012: 28.1 % of population2013: 29.1 % of population2014: 28.5 % of population2015: 29.3 % of population2016: 29.9 % of population2017: 29.8 % of population2018: 30.4 % of population2019: 31 % of population2020: 31.6 % of population2021: 32.1 % of population2022: 32.7 % of population2023: 35.2 % of population2024: 36.6 % of population

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 with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries stood at 36.6%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 28.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries peaked at 36.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 26.1%, in 2010.

That places Least developed countries 23rd out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (% of population) in Least developed countries, 2010 to 2024.
Year % of population Change
2010 26.1%
2011 27.2% +4.1%
2012 28.1% +3.5%
2013 29.1% +3.4%
2014 28.5% -1.9%
2015 29.3% +2.5%
2016 29.9% +2.1%
2017 29.8% -0.2%
2018 30.4% +2.0%
2019 31.0% +2.0%
2020 31.6% +1.8%
2021 32.1% +1.7%
2022 32.7% +1.8%
2023 35.2% +7.9%
2024 36.6% +3.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 28.9% 26.1% 31.0% 10
2020s 33.6% 31.6% 36.6% 5

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 20 Ukraine 95.4% compare
  2. 21 Turks and Caicos Islands 95.0% compare
  3. 22 Palestine, State of 94.9% compare
  4. 23 Thailand 94.6% compare
  5. 24 Bhutan 94.5% compare
  6. 25 Armenia 94.4% compare
  7. 26 Tuvalu 93.9% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More health data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries?
People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries was 36.6% 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 with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2024.
What is the lowest people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 26.1% in 2010.
How does Least developed countries rank for people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water?
Least developed countries ranks 23rd out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Least developed 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 with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-with-basic-handwashing-facilities-including-soap-and-water-percent-of-population/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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About this data

Indicator
People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 2,174 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of people living in households that have a handwashing facility with soap and water available on the premises. Handwashing facilities may be fixed or mobile and include a sink with tap water, buckets with taps, tippy-taps, and jugs or basins designated for handwashing. Soap includes bar soap, liquid soap, powder detergent, and soapy water but does not include ash, soil, sand or other handwashing agents.