Countries With the Fastest Decline in Access to sanitation (5-Year Change)
Change in Access to sanitation over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Naoero fell the most: by 3.6 pts, from 36.8% of population (safely managed) to 33.2% of population (safely managed) in the five years to 2024. Tonga is second (−2.54 pts), followed by El Salvador (−2.13 pts). 27 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.563 pts.
- #1
- Naoero · −3.6 pts
- Median
- −0.563 pts
- Coverage
- 27 countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naoero | 36.8 | 33.2 | −3.6 pts |
| 2 | Tonga | 33.8 | 31.2 | −2.54 pts |
| 3 | El Salvador | 38.1 | 36 | −2.13 pts |
| 4 | Guyana | 45.4 | 43.4 | −1.97 pts |
| 5 | Dominican Republic | 44.9 | 43 | −1.94 pts |
| 6 | Gambia, The | 29.9 | 28.1 | −1.8 pts |
| 7 | Serbia | 25.8 | 24.1 | −1.73 pts |
| 8 | Spain | 89.3 | 88.3 | −1.02 pts |
| 9 | Austria | 99.5 | 98.5 | −0.971 pts |
| 10 | Tuvalu | 40.6 | 39.7 | −0.911 pts |
| 11 | Morocco | 9.32 | 8.42 | −0.898 pts |
| 12 | Fiji | 49.3 | 48.5 | −0.765 pts |
| 13 | Croatia | 75.5 | 74.7 | −0.751 pts |
| 14 | Zimbabwe | 24.1 | 23.6 | −0.563 pts |
| 15 | Lebanon | 26.2 | 25.7 | −0.52 pts |
| 16 | Central African Republic | 13.9 | 13.5 | −0.42 pts |
| 17 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 13.5 | 13.1 | −0.417 pts |
| 18 | Saudi Arabia | 84.2 | 83.9 | −0.328 pts |
| 19 | Libya | 22.1 | 21.7 | −0.309 pts |
| 20 | Belarus | 74.7 | 74.4 | −0.272 pts |
| 21 | Myanmar | 60.8 | 60.5 | −0.234 pts |
| 22 | Suriname | 25.4 | 25.1 | −0.23 pts |
| 23 | Italy | 78.4 | 78.2 | −0.158 pts |
| 24 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 34 | 33.9 | −0.113 pts |
| 25 | North Macedonia | 12.2 | 12.1 | −0.083 pts |
| 26 | Armenia | 10.8 | 10.7 | −0.026 pts |
| 27 | Poland | 97.8 | 97.8 | −0.001 pts |
About the top 10
#1 Naoero
Naoero ranks #1 on this list with −3.6 pts.
- Capital
- Yaren District
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 12,025 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$176.04 million (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$14,640 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in government revenue share of gdp · #2 in health expenditure share of gdp · #8 in atms per 100,000 adults.
#2 Tonga
Tonga ranks #2 on this list with −2.54 pts.
- Capital
- Nukuʻalofa
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 103,740 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$679.22 million (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 21.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #7 in rural population share · #10 in completion rate (primary) · #11 in income share of poorest 10%.
#3 El Salvador
El Salvador ranks #3 on this list with −2.13 pts.
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$36.71 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,767 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in debt service share of exports · #6 in government debt share of gdp · #14 in mobile subscriptions per 100.
#4 Guyana
Guyana ranks #4 on this list with −1.97 pts.
- Capital
- Georgetown
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 835,990 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,414 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in gdp growth rate · #1 in industry value added share of gdp · #1 in livestock production index.
#5 Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic ranks #5 on this list with −1.94 pts.
- Capital
- Santo Domingo
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 11.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$127.41 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$11,059 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Santo Domingo.
Also ranks #4 in crop production index · #14 in deposit interest rate · #19 in remittances received.
#6 Gambia, The
Gambia, The ranks #6 on this list with −1.8 pts.
- Capital
- Banjul
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 2.82 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.59 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$919.1 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 65% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #3 in arable land share · #7 in gross capital formation rate.
#7 Serbia
Serbia ranks #7 on this list with −1.73 pts.
- Capital
- Belgrade
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.95 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$15,262 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: City of Belgrade, Belgrade.
Also ranks #3 in death rate · #4 in smoking prevalence · #13 in age dependency ratio (old).
#8 Spain
Spain ranks #8 on this list with −1.02 pts.
- Capital
- Madrid
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 49.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.91 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$38,627 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Madrid city, Barcelona, City of Valencia.
Also ranks #7 in female life expectancy · #7 in government debt share of gdp · #8 in tourism arrivals.
#9 Austria
Austria ranks #9 on this list with −0.971 pts.
- Capital
- Vienna
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 9.21 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$579.47 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$62,930 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Vienna.
Also ranks #3 in bank accounts share (adults) · #5 in government revenue share of gdp · #5 in atms per 100,000 adults.
#10 Tuvalu
Tuvalu ranks #10 on this list with −0.911 pts.
- Capital
- Funafuti
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 9,492 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$57.35 million (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,041 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 65.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in agricultural land share · #1 in health expenditure share of gdp · #1 in literacy rate.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Access to sanitation over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SH.STA.SMSS.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: People using safely managed sanitation services (% of population): WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.