Ethiopia vs Lesotho: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas
Ethiopia
20.4%
in 2024
Lesotho
19.7%
in 2024
Ethiopia rank
28th
Lesotho rank
29th
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas over time
- Ethiopia
- Lesotho
How they compare
Ethiopia currently reports 20.4% against 19.7% in Lesotho, a difference of 0.7%.
Across all 25 years both countries report, Ethiopia has been ahead every year.
Ethiopia ranks 28th and Lesotho ranks 29th of 175 countries.
Ethiopia has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ethiopia | Lesotho | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 69.4% | 48.2% | 21.2% | Ethiopia |
| 2010s | 44.3% | 33.6% | 10.7% | Ethiopia |
| 2020s | 25.5% | 22.6% | 2.8% | Ethiopia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas, Ethiopia or Lesotho?
- Ethiopia, at 20.4% against 19.7% in Lesotho as of 2024.
- What is the difference in open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas between Ethiopia and Lesotho?
- 0.7%, with Ethiopia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and Lesotho?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do Ethiopia and Lesotho rank globally for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Ethiopia ranks 28th and Lesotho ranks 29th of 175 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 Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of people who practice open defecation. This includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.