People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria
Nigeria: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 61.74 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 61.74 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria peaked at 61.74 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 47.01 million people, in 2000.
That places Nigeria 3rd out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.41 million people | 47.01 million people | 53.81 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.54 million people | 54.55 million people | 60.03 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.09 million people | 60.40 million people | 61.74 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3216 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3105 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.8 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4187 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 860.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria was 61.74 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 61.74 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.01 million people in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.