Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services

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This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services

Indicator description
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom

Unit of measurement

Percentage (%)

Definitions

Sanitation services are defined as to the management of excreta from the facilities used by individuals, through emptying and transport of excreta for treatment and eventual discharge or reuse.​​​​​​

The data follows JMP's five stage sanitation ladder -

Open defecation - Disposal of human faeces in fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water, beaches and other open spaces or with solid waste.

Unimproved - Use of pit latrines without a slab or platform, hanging latrines or bucket latrines.

Limited - Use of improved facilities shared between two or more households.

Basic - Use of improved facilities which are not shared with other households.

Safely managed - Use of improved facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed of in situ or removed and treated offsite.

Available disaggregations
Calculations

Percentage figures provided in source data.

Other information

Improved sanitation facilities are those designed to hygienically separate excreta from human contact and include - flush/pour flush toilets connected to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; pit latrines with slabs (including ventilated pit latrines), and composting toilets.

There are 3 main ways to meet the criteria for having a safely managed sanitation service. People should use improved sanitation facilities which are not shared with other households, and the excreta produced should either be -

  • Treated and disposed in situ
  • Stored temporarily and then emptied and treated off-site
  • transported through a sewer with wastewater and then treated off-site
  • If excreta from improved sanitation facilities are not safely managed, then people using those facilities are classed as having a basic sanitation service. People using improved facilities that are shared with other households are classified as having a basic sanitation service.

    The data figures are estimated by JMP, drawing from a range of different data sources. Such as, representative household surveys, population and housing censuses, administrative data and service provider data. For further information on JMP data collection and methods for this indicator, please see JMP monitoring. At present, UK data does not account for homeless rough sleepers.

    No national data are currently available for indicator 6.2.1 (b) 'Proportion of population with handwashing facilities with soap and water available at home'.

    Data follows the UN specification for this indicator. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts.

    Data last updated 11 January 2022
    Metadata last updated 11 January 2022

    This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

    Indicator name

    Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water

    Target name

    By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

    Global indicator description
    UN designated tier

    Tier II

    UN custodian agency

    World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEFF)

    Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 6.2 opens in a new window
    Organisation

    WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene

    Periodicity

    Annual

    Earliest available data

    2000

    Geographical coverage

    United Kingdom

    Link to data source JMP Washdata opens in a new window
    Release date 01 July 2021
    Next release

    01/07/2023

    Statistical classification

    Official international

    Contact details

    info@washdata.org

    Other information

    View data table and select measure by ‘Sanitation’ and see ‘anaylse by service level’, ‘analyse by facility type’ and ‘analyse by safely managed criteria’ for data.

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