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

Mauritania: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 16.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
16.2%
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
21st
of 213 countries
All-time high
59.1%
in 2000
All-time low
16.2%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

20304050602000201220242000: 59.12001: 57.32002: 55.32003: 53.32004: 51.32005: 49.42006: 47.42007: 45.52008: 43.62009: 41.72010: 39.92011: 382012: 36.22013: 34.42014: 32.62015: 30.92016: 29.12017: 27.42018: 25.82019: 24.12020: 22.52021: 20.92022: 19.32023: 17.72024: 16.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Mauritania is 16.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.7% on the previous year and down 50.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Mauritania peaked at 59.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 2024.

That places Mauritania 21st out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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 Mauritania, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%) in Mauritania, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 59.1%
2001 57.3% -3.1%
2002 55.3% -3.5%
2003 53.3% -3.6%
2004 51.3% -3.7%
2005 49.4% -3.8%
2006 47.4% -3.9%
2007 45.5% -4.0%
2008 43.6% -4.2%
2009 41.7% -4.3%
2010 39.9% -4.5%
2011 38.0% -4.6%
2012 36.2% -4.8%
2013 34.4% -5.0%
2014 32.6% -5.2%
2015 30.9% -5.4%
2016 29.1% -5.6%
2017 27.4% -5.8%
2018 25.8% -6.1%
2019 24.1% -6.4%
2020 22.5% -6.8%
2021 20.9% -7.1%
2022 19.3% -7.6%
2023 17.7% -8.1%
2024 16.2% -8.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 50.4% 41.7% 59.1% 10
2010s 31.8% 24.1% 39.9% 10
2020s 19.3% 16.2% 22.5% 5

Countries ranked near Mauritania

  1. 18 Haiti 17.5% compare
  2. 19 Sudan 16.4% compare
  3. 20 Ethiopia 16.2% compare
  4. 22 Mozambique 16.0% compare
  5. 23 Djibouti 15.9% compare
  6. 24 Papua New Guinea 15.6% compare

See the full ranking of 268 places →

More infrastructure data for Mauritania

All data for Mauritania →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Mauritania?
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Mauritania was 16.2% 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 Mauritania?
The highest recorded value was 59.1% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Mauritania?
The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 2024.
How does Mauritania rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
Mauritania ranks 21st out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Mauritania?
Over the last ten years it is down 50.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Mauritania 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 Mauritania. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practicing-open-defecation-by-urban-rural-percent/mauritania/

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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