Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo
Congo: Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas was 430,056 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo, 2000–2021
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 sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo is 430,056 people, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo peaked at 430,056 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 207,728 people, in 2000.
Congo ranks 45th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 207,728 people | — |
| 2001 | 213,309 people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 221,908 people | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 231,669 people | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 243,184 people | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 255,558 people | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 268,750 people | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 282,185 people | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 294,982 people | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 310,327 people | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 326,715 people | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 340,696 people | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 353,433 people | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 365,075 people | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 376,820 people | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 388,716 people | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 400,778 people | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 413,018 people | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 417,448 people | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 421,709 people | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 425,893 people | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 430,056 people | +1.0% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 430,056 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 539,517 people, 80% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Congo's 430,056 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.16 million people, 37% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 252,960 people | 207,728 people | 310,327 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 380,441 people | 326,715 people | 421,709 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 427,974 people | 425,893 people | 430,056 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More reference data data for Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1866 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0031 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0668 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0724 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.017 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo?
- Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Congo was 430,056 people in 2021, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 430,056 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 207,728 people in 2000.
- How does Congo rank for sanitation facilities usage in rural areas?
- Congo ranks 45th out of 175 countries with data for 2021.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Congo 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 Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Open defecation includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.