Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India
India: Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 85.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India, 2010–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India stood at 85.9%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 91.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India peaked at 85.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 44.8%, in 2010.
That places India 31st out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 44.8% | — |
| 2011 | 44.8% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 44.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 44.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 44.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | +10.2% |
| 2016 | 53.9% | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 58.5% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 63.1% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 67.6% | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 72.2% | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 76.8% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 81.3% | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 85.9% | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 85.9% | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 85.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 32.2%, 2.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- India's 85.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 86.1%, 100% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 51.6% | 44.8% | 67.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.4% | 72.2% | 85.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India?
- Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in India was 85.9% 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 share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 85.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.8% in 2010.
- How does India rank for share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- India ranks 31st out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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 Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.