People not using improved sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 60,195 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka stood at 60,195 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and down 93.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.29 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 59,222 people, in 2023.
Sri Lanka ranks 108th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.29 million people | — |
| 2001 | 2.22 million people | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 2.14 million people | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 2.05 million people | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 1.96 million people | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 1.86 million people | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 1.77 million people | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 1.67 million people | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 1.57 million people | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 1.47 million people | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 1.37 million people | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 1.26 million people | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 1.16 million people | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 1.06 million people | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 951,703 people | -10.0% |
| 2015 | 843,628 people | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 733,583 people | -13.0% |
| 2017 | 621,581 people | -15.3% |
| 2018 | 507,573 people | -18.3% |
| 2019 | 391,846 people | -22.8% |
| 2020 | 274,609 people | -29.9% |
| 2021 | 155,978 people | -43.2% |
| 2022 | 66,615 people | -57.3% |
| 2023 | 59,222 people | -11.1% |
| 2024 | 60,195 people | +1.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 60,195 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 67,932 people, 89% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 60,195 people is below the median for South Asia, which is 329,541 people, 18% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People not using improved sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -57.3% | 155,978 people | 66,615 people |
| 2021 | -43.2% | 274,609 people | 155,978 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.90 million people | 1.47 million people | 2.29 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 890,123 people | 391,846 people | 1.37 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 123,324 people | 59,222 people | 274,609 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 105 Tajikistan 72,720 people compare
- 106 Japan 70,151 people compare
- 107 Lithuania 61,535 people compare
- 109 Azerbaijan 59,330 people compare
- 110 Sweden 58,842 people compare
- 111 Cape Verde 52,852 people compare
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka was 60,195 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.29 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 59,222 people in 2023.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Sri Lanka ranks 108th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.