Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in China

China: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 0.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.8%
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
133rd
of 232 countries
All-time high
39.6%
in 2000
All-time low
0.8%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in China, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 39.6 %2001: 38.8 %2002: 36.7 %2003: 34.5 %2004: 32.4 %2005: 30.4 %2006: 28.4 %2007: 26.4 %2008: 24.5 %2009: 22.6 %2010: 20.8 %2011: 19 %2012: 17.2 %2013: 15.5 %2014: 13.9 %2015: 12.3 %2016: 10.7 %2017: 9.1 %2018: 7.6 %2019: 6.2 %2020: 4.8 %2021: 3.4 %2022: 2 %2023: 0.873 %2024: 0.849 %

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in China is 0.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 93.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in China peaked at 39.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2024.

China ranks 133rd 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 31.4% 22.6% 39.6% 10
2010s 13.2% 6.2% 20.8% 10
2020s 2.4% 0.8% 4.8% 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 130 Palau 1.0% compare
  2. 131 Anguilla 0.9% compare
  3. 132 Costa Rica 0.9% compare
  4. 134 Curacao 0.8% compare
  5. 135 Slovenia 0.8% compare
  6. 136 Guam 0.8% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in China?
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in China was 0.8% 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 not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 39.6% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2024.
How does China rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
China ranks 133rd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 93.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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 not using improved sanitation facilities. 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

Indicator
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities
Unit
%
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,597 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.