Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Romania
Romania: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 9.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Romania, 2001–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Romania recorded 9.2% for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 46.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Romania peaked at 25.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2024.
That places Romania 68th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 25.7% | — |
| 2002 | 25.7% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 25.7% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 25.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 25.6% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 24.6% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 23.7% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 22.7% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 21.8% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 20.9% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 20.0% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 19.1% | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 17.3% | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 16.4% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 14.7% | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 11.9% | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 11.0% | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 10.1% | -8.2% |
| 2023 | 9.2% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 9.2% | -0.4% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 9.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 157.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Romania's 9.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.0%, 191.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.6% | 21.8% | 25.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 12.9% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 9.2% | 11.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 65 Panama 9.6% compare
- 66 Micronesia (country) 9.5% compare
- 67 Marshall Islands 9.5% compare
- 69 Faroe Islands 9.1% compare
- 70 Laos 8.7% compare
- 71 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8.5% compare
More reference data data for Romania
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.59 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.689 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.59 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.04 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 3.75 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Romania?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Romania was 9.2% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 2024.
- How does Romania rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Romania ranks 68th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.