Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 65.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities 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
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 65.9% for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 66.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 52.3%, in 2000.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 8th of 232 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 52.3% | — |
| 2001 | 53.1% | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 53.8% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 54.6% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 55.3% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 56.0% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 56.7% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 57.5% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 58.2% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 58.9% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 60.2% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 60.9% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 61.6% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 62.3% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 62.9% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 63.6% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 64.2% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 64.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 65.5% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 66.1% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 66.2% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 66.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 66.1% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 65.9% | -0.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 65.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 42.2%, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 65.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.6% | 52.3% | 58.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.6% | 59.6% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.1% | 65.9% | 66.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 5 Niger 73.5% compare
- 6 Papua New Guinea 70.6% compare
- 7 Central African Republic 69.4% compare
- 9 Madagascar 61.8% compare
- 10 Solomon Islands 59.4% compare
- 11 Uganda 57.9% compare
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 220.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,924 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 9.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1,764 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.2179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 3,057 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo was 65.9% 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 population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 66.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.3% in 2000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 8th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.