Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan
Pakistan: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 20.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan is 20.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan peaked at 58.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 2024.
Pakistan ranks 50th of 232 countries on this measure, 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 58.1% | — |
| 2001 | 58.0% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 57.9% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 57.8% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 55.8% | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 53.8% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 51.8% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 49.8% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 47.8% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 45.8% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 43.8% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 41.9% | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 39.9% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 38.0% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 36.0% | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 34.1% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 32.1% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 30.2% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 28.3% | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 26.4% | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 24.5% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 22.5% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 20.6% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 20.6% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 20.5% | -0.2% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 20.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.4%, 78% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 20.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.3%, 73.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 53.7% | 45.8% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.1% | 26.4% | 43.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.8% | 20.5% | 24.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Pakistan was 20.5% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 58.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 2024.
- How does Pakistan rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Pakistan ranks 50th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.