People not using improved sanitation facilities in United States
United States: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 1.32 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People not using improved sanitation facilities in United States, 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 United States is 1.32 million people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 88.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities in United States peaked at 1.32 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 358,233 people, in 2000.
That places United States 59th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People not using improved sanitation facilities in United States, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 358,233 people | — |
| 2001 | 362,615 people | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 367,003 people | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 371,431 people | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 375,923 people | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 380,520 people | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 385,196 people | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 390,063 people | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 394,917 people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 399,717 people | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 402,712 people | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 477,417 people | +18.6% |
| 2012 | 552,082 people | +15.6% |
| 2013 | 626,633 people | +13.5% |
| 2014 | 701,022 people | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 775,133 people | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 849,017 people | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 922,363 people | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 994,699 people | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 1.07 million people | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 1.13 million people | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 1.20 million people | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 1.26 million people | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 1.32 million people | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 1.32 million people | -0.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.32 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 428.55 people, 3076.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 378,562 people | 358,233 people | 399,717 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 736,703 people | 402,712 people | 1.07 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.25 million people | 1.13 million people | 1.32 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in United States?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in United States was 1.32 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.32 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 358,233 people in 2000.
- How does United States rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- United States ranks 59th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 88.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.