Share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia
Zambia: Share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts was 66.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia, 1986–2019
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children under 5 who received ORS packet.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia is 66.8%, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia peaked at 87.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 51.0%, in 1986.
That places Zambia 9th out of 96 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 who received ORS packet | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 51.0% | — |
| 1987 | 59.0% | +15.7% |
| 1989 | 87.0% | +47.5% |
| 1992 | 52.9% | -39.2% |
| 1996 | 53.9% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 53.9% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 53.2% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 59.9% | +12.6% |
| 2014 | 64.1% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 66.8% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 66.8% | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 66.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.0%, 1.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 66.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.5%, 1.8× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.7% | 51.0% | 87.0% | 3 |
| 1990s | 53.6% | 52.9% | 53.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 56.5% | 53.2% | 59.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 65.9% | 64.1% | 66.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 6 Thailand 72.5% compare
- 7 Bangladesh 72.4% compare
- 8 El Salvador 69.8% compare
- 10 Jamaica 64.1% compare
- 11 Myanmar 61.9% compare
- 12 Tajikistan 61.7% compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia?
- Share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts in Zambia was 66.8% in 2019, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 87.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.0% in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts?
- Zambia ranks 9th out of 96 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The share of children under five years old with diarrhea, in the two weeks prior to the survey, who received oral rehydration salts.