People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium
Belgium: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 6.55 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
6.55 people
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
139th
of 175 countries
All-time high
36.92 people
in 2000
All-time low
6.55 people
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium stood at 6.55 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 60.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium peaked at 36.92 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.55 people, in 2024.
Belgium ranks 139th of 175 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.92 people | — |
| 2001 | 35.12 people | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 33.43 people | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 31.75 people | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 30.13 people | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 28.57 people | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 27.11 people | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 25.67 people | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 24.29 people | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 22.98 people | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 21.72 people | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 20.45 people | -5.8% |
| 2012 | 19.14 people | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 17.85 people | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 16.57 people | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 15.37 people | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 14.16 people | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 12.99 people | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 11.85 people | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 10.77 people | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 9.69 people | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 8.64 people | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 7.64 people | -11.6% |
| 2023 | 6.67 people | -12.8% |
| 2024 | 6.55 people | -1.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 6.55 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.56 people, 69% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 6.55 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 327.89 people, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.6 people | 22.98 people | 36.92 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.09 people | 10.77 people | 21.72 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.84 people | 6.55 people | 9.69 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 136 Palau 47.73 people compare
- 137 Bulgaria 13.38 people compare
- 138 Luxembourg 12.57 people compare
- 140 Finland 1.7 people compare
- 141 Albania 0 people compare
- 141 Andorra 0 people
- 141 Antigua and Barbuda 0 people compare
- 141 Austria 0 people compare
- 141 Chile 0 people compare
- 141 Czechia 0 people compare
- 141 Denmark 0 people
- 141 Falkland Islands 0 people
- 141 Fiji 0 people compare
- 141 France 0 people
- 141 Germany 0 people
- 141 Greece 0 people compare
- 141 Guyana 0 people compare
- 141 Hungary 0 people
- 141 Iceland 0 people
- 141 Iran 0 people compare
- 141 Italy 0 people
- 141 Kazakhstan 0 people compare
- 141 Kyrgyzstan 0 people compare
- 141 Malaysia 0 people compare
- 141 Maldives 0 people compare
- 141 Malta 0 people
- 141 Mexico 0 people compare
- 141 New Zealand 0 people
- 141 Norway 0 people
- 141 Oman 0 people compare
- 141 Poland 0 people compare
- 141 Portugal 0 people compare
- 141 Spain 0 people compare
- 141 Sri Lanka 0 people compare
- 141 Switzerland 0 people compare
- 141 Thailand 0 people compare
- 141 Tokelau 0 people compare
- 141 Turkmenistan 0 people compare
- 141 Uruguay 0 people compare
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Belgium was 6.55 people 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 people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 36.92 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.55 people in 2024.
- How does Belgium rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Belgium ranks 139th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium 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 People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. 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
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.