In 2015 the World Health Organization estimated that only 39% of the world’s population was using a “safely-managed” toilet or latrine. That percentage is alarmingly low—and it highlights a reality that’s easy to overlook until you experience it firsthand: life without a proper toilet can be dangerous.
Without safe sanitation, people are exposed to harmful pathogens found in human waste—like E. coli, Streptococcus, and hepatitis A and E. These microbes can lead to life-threatening infections such as pneumonia (an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs) and diarrhea, which tragically remain two of the leading causes of death among children worldwide.
Beyond health, the lack of a private toilet at home forces many, especially women and children, to seek secluded outdoor spaces. In areas affected by conflict or instability, this often means facing real risks, including sexual assault.
As Bill Gates once put it: “When you think about things that are basic, right up there with health and enough to eat, I think having a reasonable toilet certainly belongs on that list.”
Tiger Toilets without sewer
system
In 2018, Bill Gates made headlines when he stepped on stage holding a jar of human feces. His goal was not to shock, but to draw urgent attention to a crucial global health challenge: the lack of safe sanitation. That day, Gates shared a bold vision—he declared that traditional flush toilets, reliant on complex sewer systems, are not a practical solution for much of the world. In response, he pledged $400 million to fund innovative research into off-grid sanitation technologies.
One of the most promising outcomes of this initiative is the development of what’s now known as the “Tiger Toilet”—a sustainable, low-cost system that functions without sewers or conventional flushing. These toilets use a natural composting method in which worms break down human waste, turning it into usable compost and significantly reducing health risks.
Here are some benefits of the Bill Gates Toilet:
- No water or sewer system required – ideal for off-grid or rural communities.
- Odor control – a major improvement over pit latrines.
- Mosquito-free – reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
- Affordable – each unit costs approximately $350.
- Impactful – over 4,000 Tiger Toilets have already been installed in India, dramatically improving sanitation for families who previously lacked access to safe facilities.
Despite its importance, sanitation remains a difficult topic for public discourse. Conversations around hygiene, diarrhea, and waste management are often seen as uncomfortable or taboo—particularly in the West, where clean water, sanitation, and access to medical care are taken for granted. But for millions across the developing world, these issues are a matter of life and death.
According to the World Health Organization, enteric and diarrheal diseases claim the lives of approximately 525,000 children under the age of five each year—a staggering and preventable loss. In many regions, poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water are the root causes. Improving hygiene infrastructure, including the installation of safe toilets, could significantly reduce these deaths.
Global health disparities are both a cause and consequence of inequality. Addressing sanitation challenges in under-resourced communities is more than a public health priority—it’s a matter of social justice. Non-profit organizations and public health initiatives are stepping up to fill the gap, but more awareness, funding, and innovation are still needed.
Behind every statistic is a story—often untold—of families, communities, and individuals whose lives are shaped by limited access to basic human necessities. By investing in solutions like the Tiger Toilet, we can help bring dignity, health, and opportunity to people who need it most.
Let’s change the conversation. Because safe sanitation isn’t a luxury—it’s a human right.
- Worm toilets require no traditional flushing. They are also not hooked up to a sewer system. Instead, worms compost human waste.
- More than 4,000 such “Tiger Toilets” have been installed to date across India, in homes of people who were previously defecating in the open.
- The Bill Gates toilets also smell a lot better than a pit latrine, and don’t breed mosquitoes either.
- The toilet powered by worms, only costs a $350 to buy.
However, that hygiene standard has not always been the case, in many countries it still isn’t – and for some of us diarrhea can be a matter of life and death. Enteric and diarrheal diseases are a major cause of death for young children in the developing world. Each year, these diseases costs the lives of about 525,000 kids under 5 years old, according to the World Health Organization. That’s huge, and I mean, it’s also so unnecessary when you consider that it’s just a matter of better hygiene.
Conclusion
I mean, it might be hard to imagine that something like diarrhea costs the lives of many, especially that of young children. In the West people have access to the right resources, the hygiene standards are more than OK and people have all the abilities to stay hydrated. And when necessary, you can get a medication treatment easily. But the reality is that this problem exists for so many years now, without barely making it to the media.
The Tiger Toilets are a great improvement and it’s one of the many stories that lack visibility, but have a major value and urgency to share them with the world. That’s basically one of the reasons why I do what I do – to start conversations about topics that matter.
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