India vs United States: People using at least basic sanitation facilities
India
1.21 billion people
in 2024
United States
344.11 million people
in 2024
India rank
2nd
United States rank
3rd
People using at least basic sanitation facilities over time
- India
- United States
How they compare
India currently reports 1.21 billion people against 344.11 million people in United States, a difference of 865.69 million people.
That makes India's figure about 3.5 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 25 shared years of data; in 2000 it was United States ahead.
India ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 232 countries.
India has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | India | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 312.93 million people | 294.10 million people | 18.83 million people | India |
| 2010s | 738.87 million people | 323.85 million people | 415.02 million people | India |
| 2020s | 1.11 billion people | 340.76 million people | 769.19 million people | India |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher people using at least basic sanitation facilities, India or United States?
- India, at 1.21 billion people against 344.11 million people in United States as of 2024.
- What is the difference in people using at least basic sanitation facilities between India and United States?
- 865.69 million people, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for India and United States?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do India and United States rank globally for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
- India ranks 2nd and United States ranks 3rd of 232 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as People using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households.