People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China
China: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 12.25 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China, 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
The most recent figure for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China is 12.25 million people, 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, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China peaked at 436.17 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.25 million people, 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.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 436.17 million people | — |
| 2001 | 430.97 million people | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 406.13 million people | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 381.47 million people | -6.1% |
| 2004 | 357.19 million people | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 333.45 million people | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 310.46 million people | -6.9% |
| 2007 | 288.01 million people | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 266.10 million people | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 244.87 million people | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 224.21 million people | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 204.31 million people | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 185.15 million people | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 166.56 million people | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 148.46 million people | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 130.86 million people | -11.9% |
| 2016 | 113.85 million people | -13.0% |
| 2017 | 97.51 million people | -14.4% |
| 2018 | 81.74 million people | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 66.57 million people | -18.6% |
| 2020 | 52.05 million people | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 38.20 million people | -26.6% |
| 2022 | 25.05 million people | -34.4% |
| 2023 | 12.63 million people | -49.6% |
| 2024 | 12.25 million people | -3.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 12.25 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36,902 people, 332.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 12.25 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 169,853 people, 72.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities 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 people | 12.63 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 345.48 million people | 244.87 million people | 436.17 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 141.92 million people | 66.57 million people | 224.21 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.04 million people | 12.25 million people | 52.05 million people | 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 people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in China was 12.25 million 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 436.17 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.25 million people in 2024.
- How does China rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- China ranks 16th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities 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 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.