Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda
Rwanda: Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas was 146,381 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda, 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 sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda is 146,381 people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 32.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda peaked at 263,961 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 146,381 people, in 2024.
Rwanda ranks 57th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 263,961 people | — |
| 2001 | 256,175 people | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 249,419 people | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 247,095 people | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 246,022 people | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 244,757 people | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 243,260 people | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 241,490 people | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 239,373 people | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 236,853 people | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 233,913 people | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 230,504 people | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 226,647 people | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 222,493 people | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 217,991 people | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 213,047 people | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 207,658 people | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 201,811 people | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 195,490 people | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 188,682 people | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 181,376 people | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 173,550 people | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 165,292 people | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 156,607 people | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 146,381 people | -6.5% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 146,381 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.69 million people, 9% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 146,381 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.16 million people, 13% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 246,840 people | 236,853 people | 263,961 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 213,824 people | 188,682 people | 233,913 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 164,641 people | 146,381 people | 181,376 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda?
- Sanitation facilities usage in rural areas in Rwanda was 146,381 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 263,961 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in rural areas recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 146,381 people in 2024.
- How does Rwanda rank for sanitation facilities usage in rural areas?
- Rwanda ranks 57th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in rural areas rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.