Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Pakistan
Pakistan: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas was 13.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan is 13.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 9.7% on the previous year and down 51.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Pakistan peaked at 42.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2024.
That places Pakistan 39th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 42.2% | — |
| 2001 | 42.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 42.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 42.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 40.8% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 39.4% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 38.0% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 36.6% | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 35.2% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 33.8% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 32.4% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 31.0% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 29.7% | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 28.3% | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 26.9% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 25.5% | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 24.1% | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 22.7% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 21.3% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 19.9% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 17.1% | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 15.7% | -8.1% |
| 2023 | 14.4% | -8.8% |
| 2024 | 13.0% | -9.7% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 13.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.0%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 13.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.1%, 231.3× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.2% | 33.8% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.2% | 19.9% | 32.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.7% | 13.0% | 18.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Pakistan?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas in Pakistan was 13.0% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 42.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2024.
- How does Pakistan rank for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Pakistan ranks 39th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.