People using at least basic sanitation facilities in India
India: People using at least basic sanitation facilities was 1.21 billion people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in India, 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
In 2024, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in India stood at 1.21 billion people. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 70.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in India peaked at 1.21 billion people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 155.13 million people, in 2000.
That places India 2nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in India, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 155.13 million people | — |
| 2001 | 185.62 million people | +19.7% |
| 2002 | 219.13 million people | +18.1% |
| 2003 | 253.80 million people | +15.8% |
| 2004 | 289.72 million people | +14.2% |
| 2005 | 326.76 million people | +12.8% |
| 2006 | 364.89 million people | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 404.10 million people | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 444.31 million people | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 485.84 million people | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 528.72 million people | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 572.73 million people | +8.3% |
| 2012 | 617.86 million people | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 664.08 million people | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 711.13 million people | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 758.96 million people | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 808.03 million people | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 858.12 million people | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 908.85 million people | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 960.24 million people | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 1.01 billion people | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 1.06 billion people | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 1.11 billion people | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 1.16 billion people | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 1.21 billion people | +4.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 1.21 billion people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.53 million people, 160.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 1.21 billion people is above the median for South Asia, which is 23.77 million people, 50.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 312.93 million people | 155.13 million people | 485.84 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 738.87 million people | 528.72 million people | 960.24 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.11 billion people | 1.01 billion people | 1.21 billion people | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation facilities in India?
- People using at least basic sanitation facilities in India was 1.21 billion 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 1.21 billion people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 155.13 million people in 2000.
- How does India rank for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
- India ranks 2nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation facilities rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.