People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea

South Korea: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 139,971 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
139,971 people
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
92nd
of 232 countries
All-time high
139,971 people
in 2024
All-time low
0 people
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Korea, 2000–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k2000201220242000: 0 people2001: 0 people2002: 0 people2003: 0 people2004: 0 people2005: 0 people2006: 0 people2007: 0 people2008: 4.2k people2009: 12.1k people2010: 20.2k people2011: 28.4k people2012: 36.8k people2013: 45.3k people2014: 54.0k people2015: 62.8k people2016: 71.6k people2017: 80.3k people2018: 89.0k people2019: 97.7k people2020: 106.4k people2021: 114.9k people2022: 123.2k people2023: 131.6k people2024: 140.0k people

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 90 East Timor 176,118 people compare
  2. 91 Armenia 154,504 people compare
  3. 93 Serbia 138,611 people compare
  4. 94 Bosnia and Herzegovina 136,093 people compare
  5. 95 Eswatini 135,383 people compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

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

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.