People without basic handwashing facilities in China
China: People without basic handwashing facilities was 39.43 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People without basic handwashing facilities in China, 2017–2024
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 without basic handwashing facilities in China is 39.43 million people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
That places China 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
People without basic handwashing facilities in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 42.52 million people | — |
| 2018 | 42.20 million people | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 41.84 million people | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 41.42 million people | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 40.96 million people | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 40.46 million people | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 39.95 million people | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 39.43 million people | -1.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 39.43 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 472,598 people, 83.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- China's 39.43 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 710,976 people, 55.5× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 42.19 million people | 41.84 million people | 42.52 million people | 3 |
| 2020s | 40.44 million people | 39.43 million people | 41.42 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people without basic handwashing facilities in China?
- People without basic handwashing facilities in China was 39.43 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 without basic handwashing facilities recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 42.52 million people in 2017.
- What is the lowest people without basic handwashing facilities recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.43 million people in 2024.
- How does China rank for people without basic handwashing facilities?
- China ranks 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people without basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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 without basic handwashing facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People without access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.