Rural without improved sanitation in China
China: Rural without improved sanitation was 12.25 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Rural without improved sanitation in China, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural without improved sanitation in China is 12.25 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 91.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural without improved sanitation in China peaked at 436.17 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.25 million, in 2024.
China ranks 16th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural without improved sanitation in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 436.17 million | — |
| 2001 | 430.97 million | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 406.13 million | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 381.47 million | -6.1% |
| 2004 | 357.19 million | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 333.45 million | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 310.46 million | -6.9% |
| 2007 | 288.01 million | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 266.10 million | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 244.87 million | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 224.21 million | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 204.31 million | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 185.15 million | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 166.56 million | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 148.46 million | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 130.86 million | -11.9% |
| 2016 | 113.85 million | -13.0% |
| 2017 | 97.51 million | -14.4% |
| 2018 | 81.74 million | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 66.57 million | -18.6% |
| 2020 | 52.05 million | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 38.20 million | -26.6% |
| 2022 | 25.05 million | -34.4% |
| 2023 | 12.63 million | -49.6% |
| 2024 | 12.25 million | -3.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 12.25 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36,902, 332.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 12.25 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 169,853, 72.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rural without improved sanitation 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 | -49.6% | 25.05 million | 12.63 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 345.48 million | 244.87 million | 436.17 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 141.92 million | 66.57 million | 224.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.04 million | 12.25 million | 52.05 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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 rural without improved sanitation in China?
- Rural without improved sanitation in China was 12.25 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rural without improved sanitation recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 436.17 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest rural without improved sanitation recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.25 million in 2024.
- How does China rank for rural without improved sanitation?
- China ranks 16th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural without improved sanitation rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Rural without improved sanitation. 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).