Lifestyle

Calculating public toilets per capita for a bathroom supplier

What we did

For a client in the bathroom and plumbing space, we researched the number of public toilets in different parts of the world and calculated how many there are per 100,000 people, as well as per 100 square kilometres in the UK and the U.S.

How we did it

Step 1: Data collection

We gathered the number of public toilets in different cities throughout the UK and the U.S. from the PeePlace database.

Step 2: Data analysis

As part of our data analysis, we used the latest available country population data to calculate the number of public toilets per 100k people across the UK and the U.S.

Step 3: Data visualization

We visualized the data in a series of maps and charts with the goal of producing static images that are easy to digest and easy to share online.

Step 4: Development

We developed an interactive tool that allows users to compare public toilet figures between cities for an extra layer of interactivity on the page.

The results

139

Unique Referring Domains

62

Average Domain Rating

The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Guardian, CNN

Big Wins

The cherry on top

This and following reports from QS Supplies led to some real-life positive changes.

Just to share one example, in light of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi’s poor rankings in the index, the Vietnamese government ordered that more public toilets be built.

The campaign assets

“City-built public toilets in New York City are virtually non-existent. Part of the problem, Soifer said, is that there is no official count of how many government-operated public restrooms are in the US.

One study, conducted by the British bathroom supply company QS Supplies, estimates that there are eight public toilets for every 100,000 Americans, ranking below the UK, France and Canada. In comparison, Iceland, which has the highest number, has 56 public toilets for 100,000 people."