> I still find it slightly bemusing, that 2.5 billion people lack access to any sanitation [1], but only 1 billion lack electricity and access to a mobile phone

> I still find it slightly bemusing, that 2.5 billion people lack access to any sanitation [1], but only 1 billion lack electricity and access to a mobile phone I don't find it too surprising. Having spent time in various poor countries, my intuition is that in many low-GDP countries electricity is a no-brainer for everyone, whereas home/neighborhood/public sanitation is not just a matter of disposable income but also of awareness/education/inertia..