Sanitation
Poor sanitation cost global economy US $ 223 billion in 2015
By Cor Dietvorst
THE TRUE COST OF POOR SANITATION quarters of the total amount . Latin America and the Caribbean , and Africa account for approximately 10 % of the global cost each . On a national level , in terms of total cost , India suffers by far the most , with US $ 106.7 billion wiped off GDP in 2015 , almost half of the total global losses , and 5.2 % of the nation ’ s GDP .
The research underlines the terrible toll poor sanitation is taking in Africa , where the costs stood at US $ 19.3 billion in 2015 , an increase of 24.5 % from US $ 15.5 billion in 2010 . These costs were equivalent to 0.9 % of GDP , higher than the global ( ex-India ) average . In terms of cost as a share of GDP , the top 10 most impacted countries were concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia .
The report identifies three priority areas that will be key in
$ 22.2 billion
MORTALITY : 52 %, US $ 11.5 BILLION
PRODUCTIVITY : 2 %, US $ 0.39 BILLION
HEALTHCARE : 43 %, US $ 9.6 BILLION
ACCESS : 3 %, US $ 0.73 BILLION
EASTERN EUROPE
$ 9 billion
FORMERLY SOVIET STATES
MORTALITY : 51 %, US $ 4.6 BILLION
PRODUCTIVITY : 3 %, US $ 0.29 BILLION
HEALTHCARE : 45 %, US $ 4.0 BILLION
ACCESS : 1 %, US $ 0.07 BILLION
MIDDLE EAST
CARIBBEAN
LATIN AMERICA
AFRICA ASIA PACIFIC
Lack of access to sanitation cost the global economy
US $ 222.9 billion in 2015 , up from US $ 182.5 billion in 2010 , a rise of 22 % in just five years , according to a new report released on 25 August 2016 by LIXIL Group Corporation (“ LIXIL Group ”), a global leader in housing and building materials , products and services .
The true cost of poor sanitation , published in collaboration with WaterAid and Oxford Economics , which conducted economic modeling to develop up-todate estimations of the global cost of poor sanitation , brings to light the high economic burden in low-income and lower-middle income countries .
More than half ( 55 %) of all costs of poor sanitation are a consequence of premature deaths , rising to 75 % in Africa . A further quarter are due to treating related diseases , and other costs are related to lower productivity as a result of illnesses and time lost due to lack of access to a private toilet .
Regionally , in terms of total US dollar value , the economic burden of poor sanitation is heaviest in Asia Pacific , which is accountable for a cost of US $ 172.3 billion , over three
GLOBAL RANKING : Top 10 COUNTRY
COST ( US $ millions )
India 106,700 China 35,900 Brazil 10,600 Pakistan 7,900 Indonesia 7,400 Mexico 5,800
Bangladesh 5,300 Nigeria 3,800 Turkey 2,500 Thailand 2,300
GLOBAL RANKING : Top 10 COUNTRY
COST ( Share of GDP )
India 5.2 % Lao PDR 3.2 % Pakistan 3.0 % Niger 2.7 % Sudan 2.6 %
Bangladesh 2.4 % Eritrea 2.3 % Haiti 1.7 % Senegal 1.7 %
Central African Republic 1.7 %
MORTALITY : 75 %, US $ 14.5 BILLION
PRODUCTIVITY : 2 %, US $ 0.3 BILLION
HEALTHCARE : 16 %, US $ 3.2 BILLION
ACCESS : 7 %, US $ 1.39 BILLION
$ 19.3 billion
Infographic from “ The True Cost of Poor Sanitation ”
MORTALITY : 54 %, US $ 92.2 BILLION
PRODUCTIVITY : 9 %, US $ 15.5 BILLION
HEALTHCARE : 23 %, US $ 39.7 BILLION
ACCESS : 14 %, US $ 24.8 BILLION
$ 172.3 billion ensuring sustainable sanitation solutions for all :
• Political will and action : The Millennium Development Goal ( MDG ) for sanitation was the most off track . Governments should commit to a national strategy on sanitation to meet the target set out in the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG6 ).
• Innovative solutions : Sanitation systems in the developed world require vast amounts of land , energy , and water . They are expensive to build , maintain and operate . Innovation is key to solving the sanitation crisis .
• Cross-sector collaboration : Providing sanitation solutions for low income consumers is a complex challenge . It is important to build partnerships across public and private sectors and civil society . Knowledge sharing , new technologies and innovation in delivery models are needed to address the sanitation challenge .
32 Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • September - October 2016