World Toilet Day

Categories:: Cause
Tags:: Awareness
Where:: World
Date change rule:: Every November 19
Holiday emoji:: 🚽

World Toilet Day highlights the global sanitation crisis every November 19. This UN-recognized day raises awareness for the 3.6 billion people worldwide who lack access to safely managed toilets. Join the movement to advocate for sustainable sanitation solutions and ensure everyone has dignity and health.

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Expected World Toilet Day Deals

For World Toilet Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial fundraising and advocacy efforts to combat the global sanitation crisis. Organizations like WaterAid and UNICEF partner with corporate sponsors to fund projects providing access to clean water and sanitation facilities in communities worldwide. Look for donation matching campaigns from companies like Kohler and LIXIL, who often support initiatives through their corporate social responsibility programs. Many non-profits also run awareness campaigns, encouraging individuals to donate directly or participate in virtual events. We will update this page with confirmed live campaigns as November 19 approaches.

Platform Guide for World Toilet Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #WorldToiletDay. Share infographics on global sanitation facts or personal stories of impact.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #WorldToiletDay. Join the conversation on global sanitation challenges and advocate for policy change.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #WorldToiletDay. Share educational resources and participate in community discussions about sanitation access.

World Toilet Day Hero

Jack Sim

Jack Sim is a Singaporean philanthropist who founded the World Toilet Organization (WTO) in 2001. Frustrated by the lack of attention given to sanitation, he declared November 19 as World Toilet Day, which was later recognized by the UN. His advocacy has brought global attention to the sanitation crisis, leading to significant advancements in public health.

History of World Toilet Day

Jack Sim, a philanthropist from Singapore, founded the World Toilet Organization on November 19, 2001, subsequently declaring the day World Toilet Day. The WTO chose “World Toilet Day” as opposed to “World Sanitation Day” for ease of public messaging, though toilets are only the first stage of sanitation apparatuses.

World Toilet Day was made to spread and increase public awareness of broader sanitations systems such as wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and hand washing. Goal 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals calls for adequate sanitation, which includes the system assuring that waste is safely processed. Their efforts to call attention to the sanitation crises were strengthened in 2010 when the right to water and sanitation was officially declared a human right by the UN.

In 2013, a joint effort between the Government of Singapore and the World Toilet Organization led to Singapore’s first UN resolution called “Sanitation for All.” This resolution called for the collective action to end the world sanitation crises. As a result, World Toilet Day was declared an official UN day and the resolution was adopted by 122 countries at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. During World Toilet Day 2015, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon advocated action to renew efforts to provide access to satisfactory sanitation for all, reminding everyone of the “Call to Action on Sanitation” which was launched in 2013 and aimed to end open defecation by 2025.

World Toilet Day timeline

2001

WTO founded

The World Toilet Organization was founded by Jack Sim in Singapore.

2010

Sanitary Rights

The UN declared the right to water and sanitation a human right.

2011

A challenge issued

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation issued the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, asking innovators design a waste-free commode in order to reconsider how we flush.

2013

It's official

World Toilet Day was declared an official UN day

How Businesses Can Celebrate World Toilet Day

Local businesses can observe World Toilet Day by raising awareness and supporting sanitation initiatives. Restaurants and cafes could display information about the global sanitation crisis or partner with a local charity to collect donations. Plumbing and construction companies might offer free workshops on toilet maintenance or donate a portion of sales from specific products to a relevant cause. Even offices can use the day to promote water conservation and hygiene best practices among employees.

World Toilet Day FAQs

When is World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Day 2026 falls on Thursday, November 19, an annual observance dedicated to addressing the global sanitation crisis.

How many people lack access to safely managed toilets?

According to UN-Water, approximately 3.6 billion people worldwide currently live without safely managed sanitation facilities. This figure highlights the urgent need for action.

What is the theme for World Toilet Day?

The theme for World Toilet Day is typically announced by UN-Water closer to the date, focusing on a specific aspect of the sanitation crisis each year. Past themes have included ‘Valuing Toilets’ and ‘Making the Invisible Visible’.

Why is World Toilet Day important?

World Toilet Day is crucial because inadequate sanitation has severe impacts on public health, dignity, the environment, and economic development, especially for women and girls.

How to Observe World Toilet Day

Read up
As strange as it is to say, the history of the toilet, and plumbing in general, is a fascinating read. From the ancient Romans to the Middle East to John Crapper and today’s futuristic thrones, there’s plenty to learn about. And we're sure there's a joke about the perfect place to do said reading.
Post it
With all the tact you can muster (and perhaps a quick clean before), post a picture of your own toilet to social media to raise awareness of World Toilet Day, with the appropriate hashtag. Or, use your internet search skills to track down some of the best toilets in the world, and share with your friends. Great view? Cool design? The perfect toilet is out there for you to find.
Take action
With the help and guidance of UN-Water and its partners, you can host an event to raise funds for the cause or simply to increase awareness. The official World Toilet Day website even offers a tool to help you connect with others hosting a similar event all around the world.

Why World Toilet Day is Important

It raises awareness
World Toilet Day is all about shedding light on a subject that is often deemed inappropriate. And while we don’t suggest documenting the when, why, and how of your bathroom habits on social media, it can definitely be a day to open the conversation about sanitation issues in the world. As the UN puts it, there’s a taboo around talking toilets, and it’s time to break it.
It celebrates a modern marvel
From the first flush toilet to innovations being made to this day, toilets and plumbing have changed the way we live. Now, thanks to recent advancements, consumers aren’t wasting hundreds of billions of gallons of water and billions of dollars each year. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that if everyone in the country used an eco-friendly plumbing system, we could save 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $17 billion, every year. Now that’s something to celebrate.
It’s urgent
Just like you after a Big Gulp, this can’t wait. UN statistics show that diarrhea caused by poor sanitation and unsafe water kills 315,000 children every year. What’s more, productivity is falling due to lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices in workplaces in several countries, costing them as much as 5 percent of their gross domestic product.