Discrepancies can also arise depending on whether data are gathered by routine government reporting or by surveys both of which were used in preparing the table. The rate of access to adequate sanitation is usually determined by dividing the number of sanitation facilities in a community by the number of inhabitants. Routine reporting may, however, rely on outdated census data or fail to take into account squatter communities or public sanitation facilities that fall into disrepair. It may also not include privately built latrines. Household surveys, on the other hand, can provide data on actual availability of sanitation facilities rather than simply on what facilities have been provided and have the advantage of providing direct, timely information from the field.
Surveys can therefore point to problems in data obtained from routine reporting.
They are, however, much more expensive than routine government reporting, may use different definitions and are subject to sampling errors and distortions. Generally, countries definitions have since become more restrictive and realistic, resulting in reports of lower rates of access. Just as many countries need to step up efforts to improve access to sanitation, greater standardization of definitions is needed to allow for more accurate global comparisons of progress.