The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) in 2024, highlights the ongoing challenges African countries encounter in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.
The EPI assesses 40 indicators across 11 categories, including air quality, water and sanitation, biodiversity, and sustainability, providing insights into areas that require attention.
By ranking countries based on their performance, the EPI allows them to evaluate the effectiveness of their environmental policies and track progress toward their goals.
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Higher EPI rankings indicate that some countries have effectively focused on environmental health and sustainability, recognizing the essential role of a clean environment in supporting economic growth, public health, and quality of life.
The EPI is instrumental in identifying key issues, setting targets, monitoring progress, and assessing the impact of environmental policies.
According to the World Population Review, here are the 5 least clean African countries in 2024 based on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) score.
1. Eritrea: EPI Score of 28.6
Eritrea holds the lowest EPI score among African countries in 2024, with a score of 28.6. The country has struggled with various environmental challenges, particularly in the areas of waste management and water sanitation. Limited infrastructure and resources contribute to the nation’s difficulties in addressing these issues.
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2. Madagascar: EPI Score of 29.9
Madagascar, with an EPI score of 29.9, ranks just above Eritrea. The island nation faces significant challenges in managing its natural resources and waste disposal systems. Deforestation and land degradation exacerbate the cleanliness issues, as they contribute to the contamination of water sources and the accumulation of waste in urban and rural areas.
3. Djibouti: EPI Score of 32.2
Djibouti has an EPI score of 32.2, placing it among the lowest-ranking countries in Africa. The country’s arid climate and limited access to clean water make sanitation a critical issue. Additionally, waste management infrastructure is underdeveloped, leading to challenges in maintaining cleanliness in both urban and rural regions.
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4. Burundi: EPI Score of 33.0
With an EPI score of 33.0, Burundi faces significant environmental health challenges. The country’s dense population, coupled with limited resources, strains the existing waste management and sanitation systems. Water pollution and inadequate waste disposal practices contribute to the low EPI score.
5. Rwanda: EPI Score of 33.4
Rwanda, despite its reputation for environmental initiatives, has an EPI score of 33.4, making it one of the least clean countries in Africa in 2024. The score suggests that while progress has been made in certain areas, challenges remain, particularly in waste management and water quality. The country’s rapid urbanization and population growth may be contributing factors to these challenges.
