Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 43.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Sao Tome and Principe, 2008–2024
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 Sao Tome and Principe stood at 43.1%. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 49.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 43.1%, in 2021.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 63rd of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 49.1% | — |
| 2009 | 49.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 49.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 49.1% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 49.1% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 48.4% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 47.8% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 47.1% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 46.4% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 45.8% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 45.1% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 44.4% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 43.8% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 43.1% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 43.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 43.1% | +0.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 43.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 32.2%, 1.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 43.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.7%, 2.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49.1% | 49.1% | 49.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 47.2% | 44.4% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.2% | 43.1% | 43.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More reference data data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0038 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.006 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.014 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0319 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0601 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Sao Tome and Principe was 43.1% 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 49.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.1% in 2021.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 63rd out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.