allow for international comparability of estimates for monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation defines "improved" sanitation as the following kind of toilets: Flush toilet Connection to a piped sewer system Connection to a septic system Flush / pour-flush to a pit latrine Pit latrine with slab Ventilated improved pit latrine (abbreviated as VIP latrine) Composting toilet Sanitation facilities that are not considered as "improved" (also called "unimproved") are: Public or shared latrine (meaning a toilet that is used by more than one household) Flush/pour flush to elsewhere (not into a pit, septic tank, or sewer) Pit latrine without slab Bucket latrines Hanging toilet / latrine No facilities / bush / field/ flying toilets (open defecation) Whilst "shared" toilets are not counted as improved sanitation, data about usage of shared toilets is nevertheless reported in the annual progress reports of the JMP. References Sanitation