People not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan
Pakistan: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 51.63 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan stood at 51.63 million people.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan peaked at 96.59 million people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 50.32 million people, in 2022.
Pakistan ranks 5th of 232 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 89.97 million people | — |
| 2001 | 92.37 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 94.50 million people | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 96.59 million people | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 95.56 million people | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 94.36 million people | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 93.03 million people | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 91.84 million people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 90.57 million people | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 89.05 million people | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 87.34 million people | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 85.31 million people | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 82.88 million people | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 80.11 million people | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 77.15 million people | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 74.03 million people | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 70.74 million people | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 67.45 million people | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 64.19 million people | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 60.86 million people | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 57.47 million people | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 54.00 million people | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 50.32 million people | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 50.98 million people | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 51.63 million people | +1.3% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 51.63 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.57 million people, 32.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 51.63 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 75,900 people, 680.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 92.78 million people | 89.05 million people | 96.59 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.01 million people | 60.86 million people | 87.34 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.88 million people | 50.32 million people | 57.47 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan was 51.63 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 96.59 million people in 2003.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.32 million people in 2022.
- How does Pakistan rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Pakistan ranks 5th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.