Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize
Belize: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize stood at 0.4%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 77.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize peaked at 7.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2018.
That places Belize 87th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.1% | — |
| 2001 | 6.8% | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -9.8% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -12.2% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -13.9% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -16.2% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -19.3% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | -23.9% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -31.5% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -45.9% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 0.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3%, 1.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Belize's 0.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.4%, 31% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.5% | 3.8% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 0.4% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More reference data data for Belize
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0139 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0337 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0813 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0041 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0813 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0467 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0206 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1856 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.399 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0225 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Belize was 0.4% 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 open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 7.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2018.
- How does Belize rank for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Belize ranks 87th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belize 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 Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas. 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
Share of people who practice open defecation. This includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.