Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda

Rwanda: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 1.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.4%
Change on year
down 48.8%
World rank
119th
of 232 countries
All-time high
48.4%
in 2000
All-time low
1.4%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda, 2000–2024

010203040502000201220242000: 48.4 %2001: 46.1 %2002: 43.9 %2003: 41.9 %2004: 39.9 %2005: 38 %2006: 36 %2007: 34 %2008: 32.1 %2009: 30.1 %2010: 28.2 %2011: 26.2 %2012: 24.3 %2013: 22.3 %2014: 20.4 %2015: 18.4 %2016: 16.5 %2017: 14.5 %2018: 12.6 %2019: 10.6 %2020: 8.7 %2021: 6.7 %2022: 4.8 %2023: 2.8 %2024: 1.4 %

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 Rwanda stood at 1.4%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 48.8% on the previous year and down 92.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda peaked at 48.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2024.

That places Rwanda 119th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Rwanda, year by year

Annual values for Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 48.4%
2001 46.1% -4.7%
2002 43.9% -4.9%
2003 41.9% -4.5%
2004 39.9% -4.7%
2005 38.0% -4.9%
2006 36.0% -5.1%
2007 34.0% -5.4%
2008 32.1% -5.7%
2009 30.1% -6.1%
2010 28.2% -6.5%
2011 26.2% -6.9%
2012 24.3% -7.4%
2013 22.3% -8.0%
2014 20.4% -8.7%
2015 18.4% -9.6%
2016 16.5% -10.6%
2017 14.5% -11.9%
2018 12.6% -13.5%
2019 10.6% -15.6%
2020 8.7% -18.4%
2021 6.7% -22.5%
2022 4.8% -29.0%
2023 2.8% -40.7%
2024 1.4% -48.8%

Rwanda compared with similar countries

  • Rwanda's 1.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.2%, 3% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Rwanda's 1.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2024 -48.8% 2.8% 1.4%
2023 -40.7% 4.8% 2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 39.0% 30.1% 48.4% 10
2010s 19.4% 10.6% 28.2% 10
2020s 4.9% 1.4% 8.7% 5

Countries ranked near Rwanda

  1. 116 American Samoa 1.6% compare
  2. 117 Iraq 1.5% compare
  3. 118 Tonga 1.5% compare
  4. 120 Canada 1.4% compare
  5. 121 Uzbekistan 1.4% compare
  6. 122 Croatia 1.3% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More reference data data for Rwanda

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda?
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda was 1.4% 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 Rwanda?
The highest recorded value was 48.4% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Rwanda?
The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2024.
How does Rwanda rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
Rwanda ranks 119th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Rwanda?
Over the last ten years it is down 92.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Rwanda 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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Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Rwanda. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-without-improved-sanitation/rwanda/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities
Unit
%
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,597 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.