Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America

Central America: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.4%
Change on year
down 16.6%
Rank
20th
of 32 groups
All-time high
9.5%
in 2000
All-time low
0.4%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America, 2000–2024

02468102000201220242000: 9.52001: 9.12002: 8.62003: 8.22004: 7.72005: 7.32006: 6.92007: 6.52008: 62009: 5.62010: 5.22011: 4.82012: 4.42013: 42014: 3.72015: 3.32016: 2.92017: 2.52018: 2.22019: 1.92020: 1.52021: 0.9842022: 0.6482023: 0.5242024: 0.437

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America stood at 0.4%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 16.6% on the previous year and down 88.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America peaked at 9.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2024.

Central America ranks 20th of 32 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%) in Central America, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 9.5%
2001 9.1% -4.6%
2002 8.6% -4.8%
2003 8.2% -5.1%
2004 7.7% -5.4%
2005 7.3% -5.6%
2006 6.9% -5.8%
2007 6.5% -6.1%
2008 6.0% -6.5%
2009 5.6% -6.8%
2010 5.2% -7.2%
2011 4.8% -7.7%
2012 4.4% -8.2%
2013 4.0% -8.8%
2014 3.7% -9.6%
2015 3.3% -10.4%
2016 2.9% -11.4%
2017 2.5% -12.1%
2018 2.2% -13.6%
2019 1.9% -15.4%
2020 1.5% -18.0%
2021 1.0% -35.6%
2022 0.6% -34.2%
2023 0.5% -19.1%
2024 0.4% -16.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.5% 5.6% 9.5% 10
2010s 3.5% 1.9% 5.2% 10
2020s 0.8% 0.4% 1.5% 5

Countries ranked near Central America

  1. 17 Ghana 17.8% compare
  2. 18 Haiti 17.5% compare
  3. 19 Sudan 16.4% compare
  4. 20 Ethiopia 16.2% compare
  5. 21 Mauritania 16.2% compare
  6. 22 Mozambique 16.0% compare
  7. 23 Djibouti 15.9% compare

See the full ranking of 268 places →

More infrastructure data for Central America

All data for Central America →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America?
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America was 0.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Central America?
The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Central America?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2024.
How does Central America rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
Central America ranks 20th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Central America?
Over the last ten years it is down 88.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Central America data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Central America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practicing-open-defecation-by-urban-rural-percent/central-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
268 places, 6,379 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed