Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Iraq
Iraq: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 1.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Iraq, 2000–2024
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 Iraq is 1.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 72.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Iraq peaked at 14.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2024.
Iraq ranks 117th 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.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.7% | — |
| 2001 | 14.0% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 13.4% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 12.7% | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 11.4% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 10.7% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | -9.1% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | -9.9% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | -12.2% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -15.9% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | -22.9% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | -29.4% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | -0.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 1.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.6%, 57% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 1.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.3%, 5.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.7% | 8.7% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 2.1% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Iraq?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Iraq was 1.5% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2024.
- How does Iraq rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Iraq ranks 117th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.