Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa

Eastern Africa: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 11.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
11.9%
Change on year
down 7.8%
Rank
5th
of 32 groups
All-time high
37.7%
in 2000
All-time low
11.9%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa, 2000–2024

102030402000201220242000: 37.72001: 36.52002: 35.42003: 34.32004: 33.22005: 32.12006: 30.92007: 29.92008: 28.72009: 27.52010: 26.32011: 26.52012: 25.42013: 24.32014: 23.22015: 222016: 20.92017: 19.32018: 18.22019: 17.12020: 162021: 152022: 13.92023: 12.92024: 11.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa stood at 11.9%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 48.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa peaked at 37.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2024.

Eastern Africa ranks 5th of 32 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%) in Eastern Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 37.7%
2001 36.5% -3.1%
2002 35.4% -3.0%
2003 34.3% -3.1%
2004 33.2% -3.3%
2005 32.1% -3.4%
2006 30.9% -3.6%
2007 29.9% -3.4%
2008 28.7% -4.0%
2009 27.5% -4.1%
2010 26.3% -4.3%
2011 26.5% +0.6%
2012 25.4% -4.2%
2013 24.3% -4.3%
2014 23.2% -4.7%
2015 22.0% -5.0%
2016 20.9% -5.3%
2017 19.3% -7.4%
2018 18.2% -5.8%
2019 17.1% -5.9%
2020 16.0% -6.2%
2021 15.0% -6.7%
2022 13.9% -7.1%
2023 12.9% -7.2%
2024 11.9% -7.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.6% 27.5% 37.7% 10
2010s 22.3% 17.1% 26.5% 10
2020s 14.0% 11.9% 16.0% 5

Countries ranked near Eastern Africa

  1. 2 Niger 66.0% compare
  2. 3 South Sudan 62.8% compare
  3. 4 Chad 62.2% compare
  4. 5 Benin 47.0% compare
  5. 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 11.7% compare
  6. 6 Solomon Islands 45.3% compare
  7. 7 Namibia 34.7% compare
  8. 8 Liberia 33.9% compare

See the full ranking of 268 places →

More infrastructure data for Eastern Africa

All data for Eastern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa?
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Eastern Africa was 11.9% 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 Eastern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 37.7% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Eastern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2024.
How does Eastern Africa rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
Eastern Africa ranks 5th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 48.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Eastern Africa 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 Eastern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practicing-open-defecation-by-urban-rural-percent/eastern-africa/

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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