Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana
Ghana: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas was 30.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana is 30.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana peaked at 30.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 2000.
Ghana ranks 21st of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 30.3% | — |
| 2001 | 30.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 30.3% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 30.3% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 30.8% | +0.1% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 30.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.0%, 2.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 30.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.4% | 30.3% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.6% | 30.5% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.7% | 30.7% | 30.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Ghana was 30.8% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 2000.
- How does Ghana rank for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Ghana ranks 21st out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ghana 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.