People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 23,514 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 23,514 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United Kingdom peaked at 28,368 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 23,514 people, in 2024.
That places United Kingdom 106th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 28,368 people | — |
| 2001 | 28,346 people | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 28,070 people | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 27,809 people | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 27,579 people | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 27,384 people | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 27,200 people | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 27,028 people | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 26,856 people | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 26,678 people | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 26,507 people | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 26,336 people | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 26,138 people | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 25,930 people | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 25,738 people | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 25,559 people | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 25,373 people | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 25,167 people | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 24,935 people | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 24,685 people | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 24,394 people | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 24,129 people | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 23,934 people | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 23,734 people | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 23,514 people | -0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 23,514 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.56 people, 2458.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 23,514 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 327.89 people, 71.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27,532 people | 26,678 people | 28,368 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,637 people | 24,685 people | 26,507 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,941 people | 23,514 people | 24,394 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United Kingdom?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United Kingdom was 23,514 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 28,368 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,514 people in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- United Kingdom ranks 106th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.