Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Rwanda
Rwanda: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 13,826 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in urban 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
In 2024, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Rwanda stood at 13,826 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Rwanda peaked at 21,966 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 13,826 people, in 2024.
That places Rwanda 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 urban areas in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20,249 people | — |
| 2001 | 21,056 people | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 21,966 people | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 21,950 people | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 21,850 people | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 21,733 people | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 21,596 people | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 21,433 people | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 21,238 people | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 21,008 people | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 20,738 people | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 20,425 people | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 20,074 people | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 19,693 people | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 19,303 people | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 18,894 people | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 18,462 people | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 18,005 people | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 17,521 people | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 17,004 people | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 16,450 people | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 15,856 people | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 15,224 people | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 14,552 people | -4.4% |
| 2024 | 13,826 people | -5.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 13,826 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 161,906 people, 9% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 13,826 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 154,026 people, 9% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21,408 people | 20,249 people | 21,966 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,012 people | 17,004 people | 20,738 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,182 people | 13,826 people | 16,450 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 urban areas in Rwanda?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Rwanda was 13,826 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 21,966 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,826 people in 2024.
- How does Rwanda rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- Rwanda ranks 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.4%. 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 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.