Access to Improved Sanitation Facilities
Percentage of population using improved sanitation facilities that safely dispose of human waste.
Quick Reference
Unit
% of population
Category
People & Society
Metric Code
sanitation_access
How It's Calculated
Percentage of population using improved sanitation facilities (flush toilets, piped sewer systems, septic tanks, pit latrines with slabs, composting toilets) that are not shared with other households and where excreta is safely disposed in situ or treated off-site. Based on household surveys using the JMP sanitation ladder criteria.
Why It Matters
Improved sanitation prevents fecal-oral disease transmission, reducing diarrheal diseases (the second leading cause of death in children under 5), intestinal worm infections, and stunting. It is SDG 6.2 and essential for human dignity, gender equity (school attendance for girls), and environmental health. Open defecation contaminates water sources and spreads disease.
Understanding the Values
Very Low: < 50% (crisis - open defecation common) Low: 50-75% (major gaps - waterborne disease endemic) Moderate: 75-90% (progress made - but vulnerable groups underserved) Good: 90-98% (near-universal - remote areas lacking) Universal: > 98% (SDG achieved) SDG Target 6.2: Access to adequate and equitable sanitation for all, end open defecation by 2030 Global average: ~74% improved sanitation (2020) Global open defecation: ~9% (673 million people)
Related Metrics
Infant Mortality Rate
Number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.
Child Malnutrition (Underweight)
Percentage of children under 5 who are moderately or severely underweight for their age.
Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water
Percentage of population using safely managed drinking water services.
Urban Population Living in Slums
Percentage of urban population living in slums or informal settlements lacking adequate housing and basic services.
Data Quality & Coverage
Coverage: 217 countries Update frequency: Annual (from household surveys with 2-3 year lag) Source: UN Data / WHO-UNICEF JMP Limitations: Does not measure functionality (many toilets non-functional), cleanliness, or user behavior. "Improved" does not always mean "safely managed" - many facilities discharge untreated waste into environment. Urban slum residents often have access but not quality.