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

Southern Asia: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 6.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
6.2%
Change on year
down 23.0%
Rank
6th
of 32 groups
All-time high
58.4%
in 2000
All-time low
6.2%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

02040602000201220242000: 58.42001: 56.22002: 542003: 51.72004: 49.42005: 47.12006: 44.72007: 42.42008: 40.22009: 37.92010: 35.72011: 33.42012: 31.22013: 292014: 26.82015: 24.62016: 22.52017: 21.22018: 192019: 16.72020: 14.52021: 12.32022: 10.22023: 8.12024: 6.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Asia is 6.2%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 23.0% on the previous year and down 76.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Asia peaked at 58.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2024.

That places Southern Asia 6th out of 32 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 Southern Asia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%) in Southern Asia, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 58.4%
2001 56.2% -3.8%
2002 54.0% -4.0%
2003 51.7% -4.1%
2004 49.4% -4.5%
2005 47.1% -4.7%
2006 44.7% -4.9%
2007 42.4% -5.1%
2008 40.2% -5.4%
2009 37.9% -5.6%
2010 35.7% -5.9%
2011 33.4% -6.3%
2012 31.2% -6.6%
2013 29.0% -7.1%
2014 26.8% -7.6%
2015 24.6% -8.2%
2016 22.5% -8.8%
2017 21.2% -5.5%
2018 19.0% -10.6%
2019 16.7% -11.8%
2020 14.5% -13.3%
2021 12.3% -14.9%
2022 10.2% -17.3%
2023 8.1% -20.6%
2024 6.2% -23.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 48.2% 37.9% 58.4% 10
2010s 26.0% 16.7% 35.7% 10
2020s 10.3% 6.2% 14.5% 5

Countries ranked near Southern Asia

  1. 3 South Sudan 62.8% compare
  2. 4 Chad 62.2% compare
  3. 5 Benin 47.0% compare
  4. 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 11.7% compare
  5. 6 Solomon Islands 45.3% compare
  6. 7 Namibia 34.7% compare
  7. 8 Liberia 33.9% compare
  8. 9 Sao Tome and Principe 33.3% compare
  9. 9 Timor-Leste 7.9% compare

See the full ranking of 268 places →

More infrastructure data for Southern Asia

All data for Southern Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Asia?
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Southern Asia was 6.2% 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 Southern Asia?
The highest recorded value was 58.4% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Southern Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2024.
How does Southern Asia rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
Southern Asia ranks 6th out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Southern Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 76.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Southern Asia 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 Southern Asia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practicing-open-defecation-by-urban-rural-percent/southern-asia/

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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