Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran
Iran: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas was 1.4% in 2016. ▬ Flat
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran, 2000–2016
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2016, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran stood at 1.4%. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran peaked at 1.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2000.
That places Iran 76th out of 175 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.4% | — |
| 2001 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3%, 5.4× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.1%, 25.5× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Iran was 1.4% in 2016, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2000.
- How does Iran rank for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Iran ranks 76th out of 175 countries with data for 2016.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 17 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.