People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Ireland
Ireland: People using at least basic sanitation facilities was 4.72 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 4.72 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Ireland peaked at 4.72 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.42 million people, in 2000.
Ireland ranks 114th of 232 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.42 million people | — |
| 2001 | 3.48 million people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 3.53 million people | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 3.59 million people | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 3.66 million people | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 3.74 million people | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.84 million people | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 3.95 million people | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 4.03 million people | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 4.08 million people | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.10 million people | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 4.12 million people | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 4.13 million people | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 4.16 million people | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 4.19 million people | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.22 million people | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 4.27 million people | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 4.32 million people | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 4.38 million people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 4.43 million people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 4.47 million people | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 4.51 million people | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 4.59 million people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 4.66 million people | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 4.72 million people | +1.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 4.72 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.05 million people, 1.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 4.72 million people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.89 million people, 80% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.73 million people | 3.42 million people | 4.08 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.23 million people | 4.10 million people | 4.43 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.59 million people | 4.47 million people | 4.72 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Ireland?
- People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Ireland was 4.72 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.72 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.42 million people in 2000.
- How does Ireland rank for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
- Ireland ranks 114th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation facilities rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.