Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan
Pakistan: Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas was 20.07 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan, 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, sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan stood at 20.07 million people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 8.8% on the previous year and down 45.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan peaked at 46.81 million people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.07 million people, in 2024.
That places Pakistan 4th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.77 million people | — |
| 2001 | 44.88 million people | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 45.85 million people | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 46.81 million people | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 46.25 million people | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 45.62 million people | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 44.93 million people | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 44.31 million people | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 43.65 million people | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 42.87 million people | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 42.00 million people | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 40.98 million people | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 39.77 million people | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 38.41 million people | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 36.95 million people | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 35.42 million people | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 33.81 million people | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 32.21 million people | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 30.62 million people | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 29.00 million people | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 27.35 million people | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 25.67 million people | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 23.89 million people | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 22.01 million people | -7.9% |
| 2024 | 20.07 million people | -8.8% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 20.07 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 539,517 people, 37.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 20.07 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 504.45 people, 39791.3× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.90 million people | 42.87 million people | 46.81 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.92 million people | 29.00 million people | 42.00 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.80 million people | 20.07 million people | 27.35 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan?
- Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Pakistan was 20.07 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 sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 46.81 million people in 2003.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.07 million people in 2024.
- How does Pakistan rank for sanitation facilities usage in rural areas?
- Pakistan ranks 4th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 25 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.