Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities was 34.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 34.1% for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 47.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2022.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 225th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 47.7% | — |
| 2001 | 46.9% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 46.2% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 45.4% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 44.7% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 44.0% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 43.3% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 42.5% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 41.8% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 41.1% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 40.4% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 39.8% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 39.1% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 38.4% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 37.7% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 37.1% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 36.4% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 35.8% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 34.5% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 33.9% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 33.8% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 33.7% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 33.9% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 34.1% | +0.5% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 34.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 57.8%, 59% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 34.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.4%, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.4% | 41.1% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 34.5% | 40.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.9% | 33.7% | 34.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 222 Uganda 42.1% compare
- 223 Solomon Islands 40.6% compare
- 224 Madagascar 38.2% compare
- 226 Central African Republic 30.6% compare
- 227 Papua New Guinea 29.4% compare
- 228 Niger 26.5% compare
More economy & growth data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 197.81 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0026 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.81 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.87 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -35.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0205 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.58 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0731 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 48.25 includes gold, current US$ per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Democratic Republic of Congo was 34.1% 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 the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2022.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 225th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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 the population using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.