Democratic Republic of Congo vs Nigeria: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities

Democratic Republic of Congo
45.12 million people
in 2024
Nigeria
61.74 million people
in 2024
Democratic Republic of Congo rank
4th
Nigeria rank
3rd

People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities over time

  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Nigeria
20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M60.0M200020122024

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 61.74 million people against 45.12 million people in Democratic Republic of Congo, a difference of 16.62 million people.

That makes Nigeria's figure about 1.4 times Democratic Republic of Congo's.

Across all 25 years both countries report, Nigeria has been ahead every year.

Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th and Nigeria ranks 3rd of 175 countries.

Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Democratic Republic of Congo Nigeria Difference Ahead
2000s 23.31 million people 50.41 million people 27.10 million people Nigeria
2010s 34.10 million people 57.54 million people 23.45 million people Nigeria
2020s 43.28 million people 61.09 million people 17.81 million people Nigeria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, Democratic Republic of Congo or Nigeria?
Nigeria, at 61.74 million people against 45.12 million people in Democratic Republic of Congo as of 2024.
What is the difference in people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities between Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria?
16.62 million people, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria rank globally for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th and Nigeria ranks 3rd 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 People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Democratic Republic of Congo vs Nigeria: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/rural-without-improved-sanitation/congo-dem-rep/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities
Unit
people
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
175 places, 4,269 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.