People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United States
United States: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 909,537 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United States, 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
United States recorded 909,537 people for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 208.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United States peaked at 916,309 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2000.
United States ranks 60th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 United States, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 people | — |
| 2001 | 0 people | — |
| 2002 | 0 people | — |
| 2003 | 0 people | — |
| 2004 | 0 people | — |
| 2005 | 0 people | — |
| 2006 | 0 people | — |
| 2007 | 0 people | — |
| 2008 | 0 people | — |
| 2009 | 0 people | — |
| 2010 | 1,679 people | — |
| 2011 | 75,094 people | +4371.8% |
| 2012 | 148,553 people | +97.8% |
| 2013 | 221,950 people | +49.4% |
| 2014 | 295,212 people | +33.0% |
| 2015 | 368,253 people | +24.7% |
| 2016 | 441,057 people | +19.8% |
| 2017 | 513,406 people | +16.4% |
| 2018 | 585,017 people | +13.9% |
| 2019 | 655,715 people | +12.1% |
| 2020 | 723,383 people | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 787,644 people | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 851,939 people | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 916,309 people | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 909,537 people | -0.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 909,537 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.56 people, 95108.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +4371.8% | 1,679 people | 75,094 people |
| 2012 | +97.8% | 75,094 people | 148,553 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 330,594 people | 1,679 people | 655,715 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 837,762 people | 723,383 people | 916,309 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United States?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in United States was 909,537 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 916,309 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2000.
- How does United States rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- United States ranks 60th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 208.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.