Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Kenya
Kenya: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 127,251 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Kenya, 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 urban areas in Kenya is 127,251 people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Kenya peaked at 189,585 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 127,251 people, in 2024.
That places Kenya 35th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Kenya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 169,368 people | — |
| 2001 | 172,405 people | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 175,332 people | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 178,004 people | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 180,539 people | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 182,803 people | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 184,801 people | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 186,505 people | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 187,946 people | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 189,048 people | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 189,585 people | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 189,500 people | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 188,770 people | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 187,387 people | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 185,310 people | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 182,556 people | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 179,262 people | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 175,366 people | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 170,649 people | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 165,202 people | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 159,111 people | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 152,234 people | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 144,665 people | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 136,393 people | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 127,251 people | -6.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 127,251 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34,339 people, 3.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 127,251 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 154,026 people, 83% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 180,675 people | 169,368 people | 189,048 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 181,359 people | 165,202 people | 189,585 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 143,931 people | 127,251 people | 159,111 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 32 Sierra Leone 141,560 people compare
- 33 Peru 141,242 people compare
- 34 Tanzania 137,437 people compare
- 36 Dominican Republic 104,633 people compare
- 37 Senegal 94,848 people compare
- 38 Papua New Guinea 78,167 people compare
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Kenya?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Kenya was 127,251 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 189,585 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 127,251 people in 2024.
- How does Kenya rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- Kenya ranks 35th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.