People not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 13.4 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria, 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 not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria stood at 13.4 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria peaked at 26.25 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.4 people, in 2024.
That places Bulgaria 181st out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.25 people | — |
| 2001 | 26.01 people | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 25.19 people | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 24.41 people | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 23.65 people | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 22.9 people | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 22.15 people | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 22 people | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 21.27 people | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 21.14 people | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 20.43 people | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 19.71 people | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 18.98 people | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 18.29 people | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 18.19 people | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 17.52 people | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 16.86 people | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 16.19 people | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 16.08 people | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 15.43 people | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 14.81 people | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 14.69 people | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 14.06 people | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 13.48 people | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 13.4 people | -0.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 13.4 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 428.55 people, 3% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 13.4 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,797 people, 0% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.5 people | 21.14 people | 26.25 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.77 people | 15.43 people | 20.43 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.09 people | 13.4 people | 14.81 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More reference data data for Bulgaria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2728 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.36 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in Bulgaria was 13.4 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 not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 26.25 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.4 people in 2024.
- How does Bulgaria rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Bulgaria ranks 181st out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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 not using improved 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
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.