People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal
Portugal: People not using safely managed sanitation facilities was 633,378 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal, 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 not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal is 633,378 people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 69.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal peaked at 4.80 million people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 633,378 people, in 2024.
Portugal ranks 100th of 150 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 not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.76 million people | — |
| 2001 | 4.78 million people | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 4.80 million people | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 4.80 million people | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 4.60 million people | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 4.40 million people | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 4.18 million people | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 3.95 million people | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 3.72 million people | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 3.47 million people | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 3.22 million people | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 2.95 million people | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 2.67 million people | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 2.38 million people | -10.7% |
| 2014 | 2.09 million people | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 1.81 million people | -13.8% |
| 2016 | 1.51 million people | -16.1% |
| 2017 | 1.22 million people | -19.5% |
| 2018 | 942,871 people | -22.7% |
| 2019 | 888,778 people | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 841,914 people | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 797,484 people | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 748,046 people | -6.2% |
| 2023 | 690,923 people | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 633,378 people | -8.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 633,378 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 481,577 people, 1.3× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 633,378 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 837,185 people, 76% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.35 million people | 3.47 million people | 4.80 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.97 million people | 888,778 people | 3.22 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 742,349 people | 633,378 people | 841,914 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal?
- People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Portugal was 633,378 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 not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.80 million people in 2003.
- What is the lowest people not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 633,378 people in 2024.
- How does Portugal rank for people not using safely managed sanitation facilities?
- Portugal ranks 100th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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 not using safely managed 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
People not using safely managed sanitation services might practice open defecation, use unimproved sanitation facilities, or use improved facilities that do not safely manage human waste.