Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Congo
Congo: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 62,149 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Sanitation facilities usage in urban 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 urban areas in Congo is 62,149 people, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Congo peaked at 62,149 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 51,850 people, in 2000.
Congo ranks 43rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 51,850 people | — |
| 2001 | 54,267 people | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 54,426 people | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 54,772 people | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 55,410 people | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 56,102 people | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 56,820 people | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 57,433 people | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 57,771 people | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 58,449 people | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 59,143 people | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 59,228 people | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 58,951 people | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 58,364 people | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 57,668 people | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 56,866 people | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 55,956 people | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 54,933 people | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 56,676 people | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 58,453 people | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 60,275 people | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 62,149 people | +3.1% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 62,149 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34,339 people, 1.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Congo's 62,149 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 154,026 people, 40% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55,730 people | 51,850 people | 58,449 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 57,624 people | 54,933 people | 59,228 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 61,212 people | 60,275 people | 62,149 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 40 Zambia 68,274 people compare
- 41 Yemen 66,044 people compare
- 42 Guatemala 62,660 people compare
- 44 Mauritania 56,408 people compare
- 45 Sao Tome and Principe 55,150 people compare
- 46 El Salvador 38,891 people compare
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 urban areas in Congo?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Congo was 62,149 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 urban areas recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 62,149 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 51,850 people in 2000.
- How does Congo rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- Congo ranks 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2021.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. 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 urban 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.