People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: People not using safely managed sanitation facilities was 1.49 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People not using safely managed 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
The most recent figure for people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in United Kingdom is 1.49 million people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in United Kingdom peaked at 1.59 million people in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.49 million people, in 2024.
That places United Kingdom 79th out of 150 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.57 million people | 1.55 million people | 1.59 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.52 million people | 1.51 million people | 1.54 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.50 million people | 1.49 million people | 1.50 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 76 Guinea-Bissau 1.70 million people compare
- 77 Bulgaria 1.64 million people compare
- 78 North Macedonia 1.60 million people compare
- 80 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.47 million people compare
- 81 Palestine 1.46 million people compare
- 82 Georgia 1.41 million people compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.37 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 2.09 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.4402 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies -0.1504 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.74 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 153.13 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in United Kingdom?
- People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in United Kingdom was 1.49 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.59 million people in 2001.
- What is the lowest people not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.49 million people in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for people not using safely managed sanitation facilities?
- United Kingdom ranks 79th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. 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 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.