Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo
Congo: Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities was 55.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo, 2000–2021
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 the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo is 55.0%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo peaked at 55.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 35.7%, in 2000.
That places Congo 213th out of 232 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.7% | — |
| 2001 | 35.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 37.0% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 38.0% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 39.1% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 40.1% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 41.2% | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 42.3% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 43.4% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 44.5% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 45.6% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 46.8% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 47.9% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 49.1% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 50.3% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 51.5% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 52.7% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 53.9% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 54.2% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 54.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 54.7% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 55.0% | +0.5% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 55.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 73.6%, 75% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 55.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.4%, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.7% | 35.7% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.6% | 45.6% | 54.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.8% | 54.7% | 55.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More economy & growth data for Congo
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.79 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.01 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 25.39 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0016 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.01 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 603.62 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0384 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 95.31 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo?
- Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in Congo was 55.0% in 2021, 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 55.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.7% in 2000.
- How does Congo rank for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities?
- Congo ranks 213th out of 232 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this 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.