Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South America
South America: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 0.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South America, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South America recorded 0.8% for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and down 76.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South America peaked at 9.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2024.
South America ranks 15th 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 South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.8% | — |
| 2001 | 9.3% | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 8.4% | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 7.5% | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -13.0% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -12.6% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | -14.3% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | -13.0% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -16.4% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | -24.8% |
| 2023 | 0.9% | -12.2% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | -12.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.5% | 5.3% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.0% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 12 Burkina Faso 29.9% compare
- 13 Madagascar 27.0% compare
- 14 Angola 25.7% compare
- 15 Central African Republic 24.7% compare
- 16 Nigeria 18.0% compare
- 17 Ghana 17.8% compare
- 18 Haiti 17.5% compare
More infrastructure data for South America
- Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted 9.9% (2024)
- Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight 9.9% (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 3 doses of 83.0% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.6% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 3.0% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.6% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 1.3% (2024)
- Total official flows for infrastructure, by recipient countries 4,428 (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 7.62 (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 67.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South America?
- Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South America was 0.8% 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 9.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2024.
- How does South America rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
- South America ranks 15th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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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