Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal
Nepal: Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas was 76.9% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal, 2005–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal stood at 76.9%. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal peaked at 76.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 74.1%, in 2005.
That places Nepal 57th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 74.1% | — |
| 2006 | 74.1% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 74.1% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 74.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 74.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 74.3% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 74.5% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 74.6% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 74.8% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 75.0% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 75.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 75.4% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 75.6% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 75.7% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 75.9% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 76.1% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 76.3% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 76.5% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 76.7% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 76.9% | +0.2% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 76.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 62.4%, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 76.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 93.2%, 82% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 74.1% | 74.1% | 74.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 75.1% | 74.3% | 75.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.5% | 76.1% | 76.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More reference data data for Nepal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7753 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7853 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7974 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.28 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal?
- Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Nepal was 76.9% 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 access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 76.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.1% in 2005.
- How does Nepal rank for access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas?
- Nepal ranks 57th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nepal 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 Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.