Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq
Iraq: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 2,073 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq, 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
Iraq recorded 2,073 people for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 83.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq peaked at 25,672 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1,871 people, in 2020.
Iraq ranks 74th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25,672 people | — |
| 2001 | 25,234 people | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 24,752 people | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 24,176 people | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 23,500 people | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 22,788 people | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 21,524 people | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 19,933 people | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 18,886 people | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 18,084 people | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 17,132 people | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 16,151 people | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 15,221 people | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 14,188 people | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 12,856 people | -9.4% |
| 2015 | 11,309 people | -12.0% |
| 2016 | 9,627 people | -14.9% |
| 2017 | 7,836 people | -18.6% |
| 2018 | 5,955 people | -24.0% |
| 2019 | 3,967 people | -33.4% |
| 2020 | 1,871 people | -52.8% |
| 2021 | 1,919 people | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 1,970 people | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 2,022 people | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 2,073 people | +2.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 2,073 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 156.93 people, 13.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 2,073 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,073 people, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -52.8% | 3,967 people | 1,871 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22,455 people | 18,084 people | 25,672 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,424 people | 3,967 people | 17,132 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,971 people | 1,871 people | 2,073 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Iraq was 2,073 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 urban areas recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 25,672 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,871 people in 2020.
- How does Iraq rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- Iraq ranks 74th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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 — 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.