Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 36.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria, 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 not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria stood at 36.2%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria peaked at 47.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2024.
That places Nigeria 30th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 47.3% | — |
| 2001 | 47.0% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 46.6% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 46.2% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 45.8% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 45.4% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 45.0% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 44.6% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 44.1% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 43.7% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 43.2% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 42.7% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 42.2% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 41.8% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 41.3% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 40.8% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 39.7% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 39.2% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 38.7% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 38.2% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 37.6% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 37.1% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 36.5% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 36.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.4%, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 36.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.6% | 43.7% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.0% | 38.7% | 43.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.1% | 36.2% | 38.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Nigeria was 36.2% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2024.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Nigeria ranks 30th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.