People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China
China: People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre was 1.35 people per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China, 2000–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in people per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China stood at 1.35 people per square kilometre. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 57.5% on the previous year and down 94.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China peaked at 54.43 people per square kilometre in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.35 people per square kilometre, in 2023.
China ranks 116th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China, year by year
| Year | people per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54.43 people per square kilometre | — |
| 2001 | 53.84 people per square kilometre | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 51.15 people per square kilometre | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 48.45 people per square kilometre | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 45.77 people per square kilometre | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 43.12 people per square kilometre | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 40.51 people per square kilometre | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 37.93 people per square kilometre | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 35.38 people per square kilometre | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 32.87 people per square kilometre | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 30.39 people per square kilometre | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 27.96 people per square kilometre | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 25.57 people per square kilometre | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 23.21 people per square kilometre | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 20.86 people per square kilometre | -10.1% |
| 2015 | 18.54 people per square kilometre | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 16.24 people per square kilometre | -12.4% |
| 2017 | 13.98 people per square kilometre | -13.9% |
| 2018 | 11.75 people per square kilometre | -16.0% |
| 2019 | 9.54 people per square kilometre | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 7.37 people per square kilometre | -22.8% |
| 2021 | 5.24 people per square kilometre | -28.9% |
| 2022 | 3.16 people per square kilometre | -39.7% |
| 2023 | 1.35 people per square kilometre | -57.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.35 people per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.69 people per square kilometre, 80% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.35 people per square kilometre is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.47 people per square kilometre, 54% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -57.5% | 3.16 people per square kilometre | 1.35 people per square kilometre |
| 2022 | -39.7% | 5.24 people per square kilometre | 3.16 people per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.34 people per square kilometre | 32.87 people per square kilometre | 54.43 people per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.8 people per square kilometre | 9.54 people per square kilometre | 30.39 people per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.28 people per square kilometre | 1.35 people per square kilometre | 7.37 people per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 113 Bolivia 1.43 people per square kilometre compare
- 114 Colombia 1.43 people per square kilometre compare
- 115 South Korea 1.35 people per square kilometre compare
- 117 Belize 1.32 people per square kilometre compare
- 118 Uzbekistan 1.22 people per square kilometre compare
- 119 Tunisia 0.9935 people per square kilometre compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in China was 1.35 people per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 54.43 people per square kilometre in 2000.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.35 people per square kilometre in 2023.
- How does China rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre?
- China ranks 116th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
People not using improved sanitation facilities divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
People not using improved sanitation facilities ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- People not using improved sanitation facilities WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
People not using improved sanitation facilities divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.