Sanitation is a Good Economic Investment

For both social and economic development, sanitation is an excellent economic investment, yielding an average return of US $5.50 for every dollar invested.

The Sanitation Drive to 2015 calls on all countries to increase investments, while better targeting funding to meet Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target 7c - to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to basic sanitation.

*Sanitation and hygiene interventions offer exceptionally good value for money invested.   *Improved sanitation and hygiene are the most cost-effective of all health interventions.   *Improving access to sanitation will help fast-track the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals.

Media and Information

For additional media inquiries about this key theme please contact Chris Walsh, Senior Communications Officer, World Bank at cwalsh@worldbank.org

For additional information please contact wsp@worldbank.org

Resources

Fact Sheet #2 - Sanitation is a Good Economic Investment_English

Fact Sheet #2 - Sanitation is a Good Economic Investment_French

Guy Hutton. 2012. Global costs and benefits of drinking water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage

The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) Economics of Sanitation Initiative

Water and Sanitation Program. 2011. Economic Returns of Sanitation Interventions in Indonesia (Research Brief)

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Photo Credit: Gates Foundation