People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea
South Korea: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 139,971 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 139,971 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.4% on the previous year and up 159.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea peaked at 139,971 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2000.
South Korea ranks 92nd of 232 countries on this measure, 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 people | — |
| 2001 | 0 people | — |
| 2002 | 0 people | — |
| 2003 | 0 people | — |
| 2004 | 0 people | — |
| 2005 | 0 people | — |
| 2006 | 0 people | — |
| 2007 | 0 people | — |
| 2008 | 4,180 people | — |
| 2009 | 12,148 people | +190.6% |
| 2010 | 20,189 people | +66.2% |
| 2011 | 28,381 people | +40.6% |
| 2012 | 36,774 people | +29.6% |
| 2013 | 45,326 people | +23.3% |
| 2014 | 54,024 people | +19.2% |
| 2015 | 62,847 people | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 71,637 people | +14.0% |
| 2017 | 80,330 people | +12.1% |
| 2018 | 89,026 people | +10.8% |
| 2019 | 97,724 people | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 106,386 people | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 114,854 people | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 123,190 people | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 131,583 people | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 139,971 people | +6.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 139,971 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 428.55 people, 326.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 139,971 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10,588 people, 13.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +190.6% | 4,180 people | 12,148 people |
| 2010 | +66.2% | 12,148 people | 20,189 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,633 people | 0 people | 12,148 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 58,626 people | 20,189 people | 97,724 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 123,197 people | 106,386 people | 139,971 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea was 139,971 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 139,971 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Korea ranks 92nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 159.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.