Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Nigeria
Nigeria: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas was 31.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria stood at 31.2%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Nigeria peaked at 31.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 2000.
Nigeria ranks 19th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 30.3% | — |
| 2001 | 30.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 30.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 30.6% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 30.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 30.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 30.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 30.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 30.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 31.0% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 31.0% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 31.0% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 31.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 31.1% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 31.2% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 31.2% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 31.2% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 31.2% | +0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 31.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.0%, 2.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 31.2% 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 | 30.5% | 30.3% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 30.7% | 31.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.2% | 31.1% | 31.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 16 Madagascar 36.5% compare
- 17 Mauritania 36.3% compare
- 18 Haiti 31.5% compare
- 20 Cote d'Ivoire 31.0% compare
- 21 Ghana 30.8% compare
- 22 Somalia 26.4% compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Nigeria?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Nigeria was 31.2% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 31.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Nigeria ranks 19th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.