People not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 72.02 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo is 72.02 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 72.02 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 26.43 million people, in 2000.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 4th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.43 million people | — |
| 2001 | 27.67 million people | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 28.93 million people | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 30.19 million people | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 31.51 million people | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 32.92 million people | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 34.39 million people | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 35.89 million people | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 37.45 million people | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 39.09 million people | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 40.83 million people | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 42.68 million people | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 44.63 million people | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 46.68 million people | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 48.81 million people | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 50.99 million people | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 53.37 million people | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 55.92 million people | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 58.40 million people | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 60.86 million people | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 63.45 million people | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 65.61 million people | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 67.84 million people | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 69.91 million people | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 72.02 million people | +3.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 72.02 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.92 million people, 9.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 72.02 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.36 million people, 13.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.45 million people | 26.43 million people | 39.09 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.32 million people | 40.83 million people | 60.86 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.77 million people | 63.45 million people | 72.02 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3528 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.335 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.82 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo was 72.02 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 not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 72.02 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.43 million people in 2000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.