Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Somalia
Somalia: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 161,906 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Somalia, 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 Somalia is 161,906 people, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 13.7% on the previous year and down 48.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Somalia peaked at 347,117 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 161,906 people, in 2024.
Somalia ranks 26th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 316,814 people | — |
| 2001 | 321,750 people | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 325,546 people | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 332,448 people | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 338,877 people | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 344,016 people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 347,117 people | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 317,423 people | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 326,446 people | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 333,048 people | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 338,390 people | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 336,404 people | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 324,609 people | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 319,374 people | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 314,042 people | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 306,904 people | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 299,514 people | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 290,553 people | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 278,790 people | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 265,513 people | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 250,445 people | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 232,743 people | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 211,253 people | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 187,519 people | -11.2% |
| 2024 | 161,906 people | -13.7% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 161,906 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 161,906 people, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 161,906 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 154,026 people, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 330,348 people | 316,814 people | 347,117 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 307,409 people | 265,513 people | 338,390 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 208,773 people | 161,906 people | 250,445 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.4444 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 234.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 43.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 96.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 28,272 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 71.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 1,010 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Somalia?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Somalia was 161,906 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 347,117 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 161,906 people in 2024.
- How does Somalia rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- Somalia ranks 26th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Somalia 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.