Botswana vs Zimbabwe: Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas
Botswana
16.7%
in 2024
Zimbabwe
18.8%
in 2024
Botswana rank
34th
Zimbabwe rank
31st
Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas over time
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe
How they compare
Zimbabwe currently reports 18.8% against 16.7% in Botswana, a difference of 2.1%.
That makes Zimbabwe's figure about 1.1 times Botswana's.
Across all 25 years both countries report, Zimbabwe has been ahead every year.
Botswana ranks 34th and Zimbabwe ranks 31st of 175 countries.
Zimbabwe has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Botswana | Zimbabwe | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.1% | 43.8% | 5.7% | Zimbabwe |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 31.0% | 3.9% | Zimbabwe |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 21.3% | 2.5% | Zimbabwe |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas, Botswana or Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe, at 18.8% against 16.7% in Botswana as of 2024.
- What is the difference in open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas between Botswana and Zimbabwe?
- 2.1%, with Zimbabwe ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Zimbabwe?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do Botswana and Zimbabwe rank globally for open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas?
- Botswana ranks 34th and Zimbabwe ranks 31st of 175 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Open defecation in rural areas vs. urban areas. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of people who practice open defecation. This includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.