Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) in Asia

Published 2026-10-07 · 24Peaks Research

Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) in Asia

Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) in Asia measures the share of people in a given Asian economy who live below the international poverty line and also lack access to basic sanitation. World Bank methodology typically defines the poverty component using thresholds such as $2.15 per day (2017 PPP) or national poverty lines, while sanitation access is measured as the absence of at least a basic sanitation facility. As of the latest available year, the indicator shows wide variation across Asia, from low single digits in higher-income economies to still-elevated shares in parts of South and Southeast Asia, and 24Peaks hosts the latest series for cross-country comparison.

What the Indicator Measures

Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) is a compound or overlapping development indicator. It counts people who are simultaneously poor and without basic sanitation, expressed as a percentage of the total population. It is not simply the sum of poverty and sanitation deficits; it captures the overlap between the two conditions.

• Poverty component: Usually based on consumption or income below a poverty line. The World Bank's extreme poverty line is $2.15 per day in 2017 purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Some datasets use $3.65 or $6.85 per day for lower- and upper-middle-income countries, or national poverty lines.
• Sanitation component: Absence of at least a basic sanitation facility. Under WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme definitions, "basic" means an improved facility not shared with other households. Lacking this includes open defecation, unimproved facilities, and limited (shared) sanitation.
• Unit and coverage: The value is a percentage of the population, typically for a given survey year. Because household surveys are conducted periodically rather than annually, the "latest available year" can vary by country, often by two to five years.

This overlap matters because poverty and poor sanitation reinforce each other. Poor households are less able to invest in toilets, and poor sanitation raises health costs and reduces productivity, which can deepen poverty.

Why It Matters for Investors and Analysts

For investors, this indicator is a signal of human capital quality, public health risk, and infrastructure gaps. Countries with high poverty-no-sanitation shares often face higher disease burdens, lower labor productivity, and greater pressure on public services.

• Health and productivity: Poor sanitation is linked to diarrheal disease, stunting, and lost school or work days. These outcomes affect long-run growth potential and the quality of the labor force.
• Public spending and fiscal risk: Governments with large sanitation deficits typically need sustained investment in water and sanitation infrastructure. That can mean higher public borrowing or higher utility costs, both relevant to sovereign and sector analysis.
• Consumer and infrastructure demand: Rising sanitation access usually accompanies urbanization and income growth, creating demand for construction materials, water utilities, and household goods.
• ESG and development finance: Multilateral lenders and development banks track these metrics when allocating concessional finance. Countries with weaker sanitation access may be more reliant on official development assistance.

In short, the indicator is a compact proxy for overlapping deprivation. It helps analysts gauge where basic service delivery is lagging even as incomes rise.

Recent Trends by Region

Across Asia, the trend is generally one of improvement, but the pace and level differ sharply by region. The figures below reflect the latest available data, which typically refers to survey years in the 2015-2022 range depending on the country. Exact values should be checked against the current 24Peaks series.

• East Asia and Pacific: The region has seen steep declines in extreme poverty and major gains in sanitation. China, Indonesia, and Vietnam have reduced open defecation substantially. The remaining poverty-no-sanitation population is concentrated in rural areas, remote islands, and informal urban settlements.
• South Asia: This region historically carries the largest absolute number of people without basic sanitation. India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have expanded sanitation coverage through national programs, but poverty-no-sanitation shares remain among the highest in Asia in several countries. Progress is uneven between states and provinces.
• Central Asia: Countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan generally report lower poverty rates, but rural sanitation access can still lag. The overlap indicator is relatively low compared with South Asia.
• Southeast Asia: A mixed picture. Singapore and Brunei report near-universal basic sanitation and very low poverty. Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines show higher overlap, especially in rural and coastal communities.
• West Asia and the Middle East: Gulf states have very low poverty-no-sanitation shares. Conflict-affected countries such as Yemen and Syria show severe deterioration, though data collection is limited.

The common pattern is that sanitation access improves with income, but not automatically. Governance, public investment, and cultural or geographic factors can slow progress even where GDP per capita is rising.

Comparison Examples

The table below compares illustrative recent values for four Asian countries. These are examples based on publicly known development data; the latest available year and exact figure may differ, and 24Peaks hosts the current series for each country.

These figures are approximate and intended for illustration. For precise, up-to-date values by country and year, the 24Peaks workbench provides the latest series.

Limitations of the Indicator

Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) is useful but imperfect. Analysts should note several limitations before drawing conclusions.

• Different poverty lines: A country measured at $2.15 per day will show a lower poverty share than one measured at $3.65 or $6.85 per day. Cross-country comparisons require checking the threshold used.
• Survey frequency: Household surveys are not annual. A "latest" value may be several years old, so it may not reflect recent shocks such as COVID-19 or inflation.
• Sanitation definitions: "Basic" sanitation excludes shared facilities. In dense urban areas, shared toilets are common, so the indicator can overstate deprivation relative to functional access.
• Overlap estimation: Some datasets estimate the overlap statistically rather than measuring it directly in the same survey. This introduces modeling uncertainty.
• Data gaps: Conflict zones and fragile states often lack recent surveys, so regional averages may exclude the most affected populations.

Because of these issues, the indicator is best used alongside separate poverty and sanitation series, and with attention to the year and methodology.

FAQ

What does Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) actually measure?

It measures the share of a country's population that is both below a defined poverty line and without access to at least basic sanitation. It is an overlap indicator, not a simple sum of poverty and sanitation deficits. The exact poverty line and sanitation definition depend on the source, typically World Bank and WHO/UNICEF methodology.

Which Asian region has the highest value?

South Asia generally shows the highest poverty-no-sanitation shares among Asian regions, driven by large rural populations and historically lower sanitation coverage. However, conflict-affected West Asian countries can show severe values when data is available. Exact rankings change with each survey round, so check the latest 24Peaks series.

Is the indicator improving in Asia?

Yes, the long-term trend is improvement. Extreme poverty has fallen sharply across East and Southeast Asia, and sanitation coverage has expanded in most countries. Progress is slower in South Asia and in fragile or conflict-affected states. The pace varies by country and by rural versus urban areas.

Why is the year of the data important?

Because household surveys are periodic, not annual, the latest available year can differ by country and may be several years old. A value from 2018 may not reflect changes from the pandemic, inflation, or recent sanitation programs. Always confirm the reference year before comparing countries.

How is this indicator different from the poverty rate alone?

The poverty rate counts only income or consumption deprivation. This indicator adds the sanitation dimension, so it identifies people facing overlapping deprivation. That overlap is more relevant for health and productivity analysis than poverty alone. The two series should be read together, not interchangeably.

Compare the Indicator on 24Peaks

To compare Poverty No Sanitation (% of population) across Asian economies and track the latest available data by year, use the 24Peaks workbench.