Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of population using safely managed sanitation was 13.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000–2024
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 population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 13.1%.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 22.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2022.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 141st out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.0% | — |
| 2001 | 21.6% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 21.1% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 20.6% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 20.2% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 19.3% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 18.9% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 18.5% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 18.0% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 17.5% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 17.1% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 16.1% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 15.7% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 15.2% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 14.8% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 13.9% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 13.1% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 13.1% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 13.0% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | +0.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 13.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 20.0%, 65% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 13.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.6%, 56% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.0% | 18.0% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.5% | 13.5% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.1% | 13.0% | 13.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 138 Somalia 16.4% compare
- 139 Benin 16.4% compare
- 140 Central African Republic 13.5% compare
- 142 Togo 13.0% compare
- 143 Madagascar 12.8% compare
- 144 North Macedonia 12.1% compare
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 3,057 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 235.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1,764 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 601.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 140.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 313.43 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Democratic Republic of Congo was 13.1% 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 population using safely managed sanitation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 22.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population using safely managed sanitation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2022.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of population using safely managed sanitation?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 141st out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population using safely managed sanitation rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 population using safely managed sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed in situ or transported and treated off-site.