People not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada

Canada: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 561,210 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
561,210 people
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
70th
of 232 countries
All-time high
561,210 people
in 2024
All-time low
40,941 people
in 2001
Years of data
25
2000–2024

People not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada, 2000–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k2000201220242000: 41.2k people2001: 40.9k people2002: 41.2k people2003: 41.4k people2004: 41.7k people2005: 44.1k people2006: 51.4k people2007: 79.2k people2008: 107.6k people2009: 136.8k people2010: 166.7k people2011: 197.2k people2012: 228.5k people2013: 260.6k people2014: 293.0k people2015: 325.9k people2016: 360.0k people2017: 395.4k people2018: 432.0k people2019: 469.5k people2020: 506.5k people2021: 542.8k people2022: 548.0k people2023: 554.9k people2024: 561.2k people

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 Canada stood at 561,210 people. 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 91.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada peaked at 561,210 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 40,941 people, in 2001.

That places Canada 70th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

People not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada, year by year

Annual values for People not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada, 2000 to 2024.
Year people Change
2000 41,186 people
2001 40,941 people -0.6%
2002 41,202 people +0.6%
2003 41,433 people +0.6%
2004 41,654 people +0.5%
2005 44,132 people +5.9%
2006 51,426 people +16.5%
2007 79,171 people +54.0%
2008 107,614 people +35.9%
2009 136,808 people +27.1%
2010 166,669 people +21.8%
2011 197,180 people +18.3%
2012 228,548 people +15.9%
2013 260,578 people +14.0%
2014 293,003 people +12.4%
2015 325,897 people +11.2%
2016 359,989 people +10.5%
2017 395,443 people +9.8%
2018 432,046 people +9.3%
2019 469,519 people +8.7%
2020 506,537 people +7.9%
2021 542,752 people +7.1%
2022 548,018 people +1.0%
2023 554,850 people +1.2%
2024 561,210 people +1.1%

Canada compared with similar countries

  • Canada's 561,210 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 428.55 people, 1309.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 62,557 people 40,941 people 136,808 people 10
2010s 312,887 people 166,669 people 469,519 people 10
2020s 542,673 people 506,537 people 561,210 people 5

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 67 Laos 678,318 people compare
  2. 68 Gabon 608,406 people compare
  3. 69 Nepal 598,887 people compare
  4. 71 Uzbekistan 504,262 people compare
  5. 72 Solomon Islands 486,802 people compare
  6. 73 Venezuela 455,743 people compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More reference data data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada?
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada was 561,210 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 Canada?
The highest recorded value was 561,210 people in 2024.
What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 40,941 people in 2001.
How does Canada rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
Canada ranks 70th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 91.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People not using improved sanitation facilities in Canada. 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/stat/number-without-access-to-improved-sanitation/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
People 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
232 places, 5,597 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

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