Sanitation facilities usage in Iraq
Iraq: Sanitation facilities usage was 2,073 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Sanitation facilities usage 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 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 99.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in Iraq peaked at 1.15 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1,871 people, in 2020.
Iraq ranks 106th of 232 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.15 million people | — |
| 2001 | 1.11 million people | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 1.07 million people | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 1.03 million people | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 974,039 people | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 919,494 people | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 842,103 people | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 752,236 people | -10.7% |
| 2008 | 682,924 people | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 621,022 people | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 550,120 people | -11.4% |
| 2011 | 475,413 people | -13.6% |
| 2012 | 399,633 people | -15.9% |
| 2013 | 317,422 people | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 224,724 people | -29.2% |
| 2015 | 125,058 people | -44.4% |
| 2016 | 20,772 people | -83.4% |
| 2017 | 7,836 people | -62.3% |
| 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 below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,951 people, 52% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 2,073 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7,007 people, 30% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 915,862 people | 621,022 people | 1.15 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 213,090 people | 3,967 people | 550,120 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,971 people | 1,871 people | 2,073 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 103 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2,658 people compare
- 104 Marshall Islands 2,562 people compare
- 105 Belize 2,297 people compare
- 107 North Macedonia 1,957 people compare
- 108 Qatar 1,934 people compare
- 109 Gambia 1,335 people compare
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 Iraq?
- Sanitation facilities usage 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 recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,871 people in 2020.
- How does Iraq rank for sanitation facilities usage?
- Iraq ranks 106th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.1%. 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. 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.