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

Western Africa: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 20.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
20.8%
Change on year
down 2.0%
Rank
1st
of 32 groups
All-time high
33.0%
in 2000
All-time low
20.8%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

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

01020302000201220242000: 332001: 32.62002: 322003: 31.52004: 312005: 30.52006: 29.92007: 29.42008: 28.92009: 28.42010: 27.92011: 27.42012: 26.92013: 26.32014: 25.82015: 25.32016: 24.82017: 24.32018: 23.82019: 23.32020: 22.82021: 22.32022: 21.82023: 21.32024: 20.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Western Africa recorded 20.8% 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 2.0% on the previous year and down 19.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Western Africa peaked at 33.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 20.8%, in 2024.

Western Africa ranks 1st of 32 groups on this measure, 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 Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%) in Western Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 33.0%
2001 32.6% -1.3%
2002 32.0% -1.6%
2003 31.5% -1.7%
2004 31.0% -1.7%
2005 30.5% -1.7%
2006 29.9% -1.7%
2007 29.4% -1.7%
2008 28.9% -1.7%
2009 28.4% -1.8%
2010 27.9% -1.8%
2011 27.4% -1.8%
2012 26.9% -1.9%
2013 26.3% -1.9%
2014 25.8% -1.9%
2015 25.3% -2.0%
2016 24.8% -2.0%
2017 24.3% -2.1%
2018 23.8% -2.1%
2019 23.3% -2.1%
2020 22.8% -2.2%
2021 22.3% -2.2%
2022 21.8% -2.3%
2023 21.3% -2.3%
2024 20.8% -2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.7% 28.4% 33.0% 10
2010s 25.6% 23.3% 27.9% 10
2020s 21.8% 20.8% 22.8% 5

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 1 Eritrea 67.0% compare
  2. 2 Niger 66.0% compare
  3. 3 South Sudan 62.8% compare
  4. 4 Chad 62.2% compare

See the full ranking of 268 places →

More infrastructure data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Western Africa?
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Western Africa was 20.8% 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 Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 20.8% in 2024.
How does Western Africa rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
Western Africa ranks 1st out of 32 groups with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western 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 Western Africa. 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/western-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