Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 2.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Africa stood at 2.3%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 62.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Africa peaked at 14.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2024.
That places Southern Africa 15th out of 34 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.9% | — |
| 2001 | 14.2% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 13.6% | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 12.9% | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 12.2% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 11.6% | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 10.9% | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 10.3% | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 9.1% | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 6.3% | -7.7% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | -10.0% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -13.0% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | -4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.9% | 9.1% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 3.9% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.3% | 3.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 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 Southern Africa
- Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted 24.1% (2024)
- Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight 12.1% (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 3 doses of 76.0% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 0.6% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 0.5% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 0.3% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 0.2% (2024)
- Total official flows for infrastructure, by recipient countries 2,644 million constant US$ (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 5.55 ratio (2024)
- Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction 74.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Africa?
- Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Africa was 2.3% 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2024.
- How does Southern Africa rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
- Southern Africa ranks 15th out of 34 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Southern 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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