Yes, you can absolutely poop in a squat toilet. That’s exactly what they’re designed for. Squat toilets are the standard bathroom fixture for billions of people across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. The squatting position actually makes bowel movements easier than sitting on a Western-style toilet, thanks to how it changes the angle of your rectum.
Why Squatting Makes It Easier
When you sit on a standard toilet, the angle between your rectum and anal canal sits at roughly 80 to 90 degrees. A loop of muscle wraps around the rectum like a sling, creating a kink that helps you stay continent throughout the day. That kink doesn’t fully release when you’re sitting upright, which is why you sometimes need to strain.
When you drop into a full squat, that angle opens to about 100 to 110 degrees, straightening the pathway considerably. The muscles that create the kink relax and pull backward, which dramatically reduces the resistance your body has to push against. The result: bowel movements tend to be faster, more complete, and require less effort. This is the same principle behind the popular toilet footstools that elevate your knees while you sit on a Western toilet.
Where You’ll Find Squat Toilets
Squat toilets are common across China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, and Turkey. In Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore, you’ll encounter them alongside Western-style toilets, especially in older buildings and public restrooms. They’re widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. In Southern and Eastern Europe, including parts of France, Italy, Greece, the Balkans, and Russia, squat toilets still appear in public restrooms. If you’re traveling to any of these regions, there’s a good chance you’ll need to use one.
How to Position Yourself
A squat toilet is typically a porcelain or ceramic fixture set flush with the floor, with a hole in the center and textured footpads on either side. Some have a hood or raised portion at one end. Face the hood (or the wall, if there’s no hood) and place your feet flat on the footpads, shoulder-width apart. Drop into a deep squat with your weight on your heels. Your bottom should hover over the hole without touching the fixture.
If you can’t get your heels flat on the ground, staying on the balls of your feet works, but it’s less stable. Leaning slightly forward and bracing your forearms on your knees can help with balance. Some stalls have a grab bar on the wall, which makes things much easier if your knees or ankles are stiff.
Managing Your Clothing
This is the part most first-timers worry about, and it’s worth thinking through before you enter the stall. The floor around a squat toilet is often wet, and you can’t always tell whether that’s water or something else.
Roll up your pants to at least mid-calf before you go in. If you’re wearing loose or flowy pants, roll them above the knee. Skirts should be hiked up around your waist. For a long dress, tuck the fabric up under your bra strap or hold it bunched at your chest. If you’re a complete beginner and nervous about balance, removing your pants and underwear entirely and holding them or stashing them in your bag is a perfectly reasonable option. You can graduate to keeping them on at your ankles once you’re more comfortable with the squat.
Flushing and Cleanup
Some squat toilets have a standard flush handle or button, just like a Western toilet. Many others have a bucket of water and a scoop beside the fixture. You pour water into the basin to flush waste down the drain. In some regions, a small hose (often called a bidet sprayer) is mounted on the wall for personal cleaning, and you use your left hand with water to wash. In other places, toilet paper is available, but it often goes in a wastebasket beside the toilet rather than into the drain, since squat toilet plumbing is sometimes narrower.
Carrying a small pack of tissues or travel toilet paper is a smart habit when visiting countries where squat toilets are common. Hand sanitizer is also worth keeping in your pocket, since soap and running water aren’t always available in public restrooms.
What If You Have Mobility Issues
Using a squat toilet requires a decent range of motion in your hips, knees, and ankles. If you have arthritis, a knee injury, or limited flexibility, a deep squat can be painful or simply impossible. Pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, also makes the position challenging. In many countries where squat toilets dominate, larger hotels, airports, and shopping malls will have at least one Western-style toilet available. Asking for a “sitting toilet” is usually understood. Planning ahead and knowing where accessible restrooms are along your route can save real stress.
For people who are physically able but just not used to squatting, the position gets significantly easier with a few days of practice. The deep squat is a resting position that humans used for thousands of years before raised toilets became common. Your body adapts quickly once the initial awkwardness passes.