People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada
Canada: People using at least basic sanitation facilities was 39.18 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada is 39.18 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada peaked at 39.18 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 30.85 million people, in 2000.
Canada ranks 30th of 232 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 30.85 million people | — |
| 2001 | 31.17 million people | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 31.49 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 31.80 million people | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 32.09 million people | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 32.40 million people | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 32.71 million people | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 33.01 million people | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 33.34 million people | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 33.69 million people | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 34.03 million people | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 34.36 million people | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 34.69 million people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 35.03 million people | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 35.34 million people | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 35.64 million people | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 35.99 million people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 36.41 million people | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 36.86 million people | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 37.31 million people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 37.67 million people | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 37.91 million people | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 38.27 million people | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 38.74 million people | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 39.18 million people | +1.1% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 39.18 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.05 million people, 12.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.26 million people | 30.85 million people | 33.69 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.57 million people | 34.03 million people | 37.31 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.36 million people | 37.67 million people | 39.18 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada?
- People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Canada was 39.18 million people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 39.18 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.85 million people in 2000.
- How does Canada rank for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
- Canada ranks 30th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation facilities rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households.