People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda
Uganda: People not using safely managed sanitation facilities was 39.83 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda, 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 not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda stood at 39.83 million people. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda peaked at 39.83 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20.96 million people, in 2000.
Uganda ranks 16th of 150 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.96 million people | — |
| 2001 | 21.53 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 22.13 million people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 22.75 million people | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 23.35 million people | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 23.96 million people | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 24.57 million people | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 25.21 million people | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 25.86 million people | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 26.53 million people | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 27.22 million people | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 27.92 million people | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 28.63 million people | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 29.35 million people | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 30.11 million people | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 30.93 million people | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 31.85 million people | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 32.85 million people | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 33.86 million people | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 34.89 million people | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 35.94 million people | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 36.97 million people | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 37.96 million people | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 38.89 million people | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 39.83 million people | +2.4% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 39.83 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 19.58 million people, 2.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 39.83 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.78 million people, 2.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.68 million people | 20.96 million people | 26.53 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.76 million people | 27.22 million people | 34.89 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.92 million people | 35.94 million people | 39.83 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More reference data data for Uganda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4214 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 29.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 42.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.29 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda?
- People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Uganda was 39.83 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 not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 39.83 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.96 million people in 2000.
- How does Uganda rank for people not using safely managed sanitation facilities?
- Uganda ranks 16th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uganda 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.