The World Bank has sounded a global alarm on sanitation, warning that inadequate toilets and waste systems are draining Africa’s economy by an estimated $200 billion annually and shaving as much as 5% off the continent’s GDP.
In a new report, The Global Sanitation Crisis: Pathways for Urgent Action, the Bank revealed that nearly two in five people worldwide still lack access to safe sanitation, a failure that fuels deadly diseases, slows economic growth, and accelerates climate and environmental damage.
A Hidden Economic Disaster
Unsafe sanitation costs Africa billions in lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and environmental clean-up. According to the report, every $1 invested in water and sanitation delivers a $7 return, while stronger sewage systems could cut global methane emissions by 10% and protect drinking water sources.
“Investing in smart, climate-resilient sanitation now can transform a vicious cycle into a virtuous one,” the Bank noted, urging governments to prioritise funding and policy reforms.
Health and Education at Risk
Globally, 3.5 billion people remain without safe sanitation, leaving communities vulnerable to cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea—diseases that kill hundreds of thousands each year, mostly children under five.
The report also links proper sanitation to better school attendance, especially for girls, citing data from India and Brazil where sex-specific toilets boosted enrolment and completion rates.
Urban Growth and Climate Pressure
Africa’s rapid urbanisation, weak infrastructure, and climate threats compound the crisis. Flooding, drought, and rising sea levels are overwhelming fragile sewage systems and contaminating water supplies, the World Bank warned.
Roadmap for Action
The Bank urged governments, cities, and private partners to:
Make sanitation a national budget priority.
Build inclusive, climate-resilient urban systems that can withstand extreme weather.
Embrace a circular economy, turning waste into energy, fertiliser, and reusable water.
“Together, governments, service providers, businesses, and communities can build sanitation systems that protect people, prosperity, and the planet—but action must start now,” the report concluded.
