What is World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Day is held every year on 19 November to inspire action towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): water and sanitation for all. Coordinated by UN-Water, the World Toilet Day campaign is supported by millions of people and organizations worldwide through their communications, events and campaigns.

Why are toilets important?

Sanitation is a human right. Yet, billions are being left behind without safe toilets, with devastating impacts on people’s health, education, livelihoods and environments.

The global sanitation crisis impacts everyone, but not equally. Women and girls, and other vulnerable groups, bear the heaviest burden.

What is the UN doing to help ensure safe toilets for all?

SDG 6 has a target to reach everyone, by 2030, with safely managed sanitation and hygiene services, “paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations”.

After a decade of implementation, the UN SDG 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation 2026 shows that progress is happening in communities all over the world. 1.2 billion people have gained access to safely managed sanitation services, and 1.6 billion people have gained access to basic hygiene services.

However, while acceleration is underway, it is still too slow to achieve the goals we have set for 2030. The 2026 UN Water Conference is a pivotal moment for the international community to commit to faster action on SDG 6.