A squat toilet or squatting toilet is a toilet used by squatting , rather than sitting. This means that the posture for defecation and for female urination is to place one foot on each side of the toilet drain or hole and to squat over it. There are several types of squat toilets, but they all consist essentially of a toilet pan or bowl at floor level. Such a toilet pan is also called a "squatting pan".
A squat toilet may use a water seal and therefore be a flush toilet , or it can be without a water seal and therefore be a dry toilet. The term "squat" refers only to the expected defecation posture and not any other aspects of toilet technology, such as whether it is water flushed or not.
Squat toilets are used all over the world, but are particularly common in some Asian and African nations, as well as in some Muslim countries. In many of those countries, anal cleansing with water is also the cultural norm and easier to perform than with toilets used in a sitting position. They are also occasionally found in some European and South American countries. Squat toilets are regarded as traditional by many.
In , squatting toilets were said to be used by the majority of the world's population. Squat toilets are arranged at floor level, which requires the individual to squat with bent knees. Squatting slabs can be made of porcelain ceramic , stainless steel, fibreglass, or in the case of low-cost versions in developing countries, with concrete, ferrocement , plastic, or wood covered with linoleum.
There are two design variations: one where the toilet is level with the ground, and the other where it is raised on a platform approximately 30 cm 1 ft. There is also no difference for defecation or squatting urination. The user stands over the squat toilet facing the hood and pulls down up in the case of skirts or dress their trousers and underwear to the knees. The user then squats over the hole, as close to the front as possible, as excrement tends to fall onto the rear edge of the in-floor receptacle if the user squats too far back.
