People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia
Zambia: People using at least basic sanitation facilities was 7.99 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia stood at 7.99 million people. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 63.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia peaked at 7.99 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.11 million people, in 2000.
That places Zambia 88th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.11 million people | — |
| 2001 | 2.24 million people | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 2.39 million people | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 2.54 million people | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.71 million people | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 2.88 million people | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 3.07 million people | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 3.27 million people | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 3.48 million people | +6.4% |
| 2009 | 3.70 million people | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 3.92 million people | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 4.15 million people | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 4.39 million people | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 4.64 million people | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 4.89 million people | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 5.15 million people | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 5.42 million people | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 5.70 million people | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 5.98 million people | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 6.28 million people | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 6.57 million people | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 6.91 million people | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 7.25 million people | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 7.61 million people | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 7.99 million people | +4.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 7.99 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.53 million people, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 7.99 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.62 million people, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.84 million people | 2.11 million people | 3.70 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.05 million people | 3.92 million people | 6.28 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.27 million people | 6.57 million people | 7.99 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 85 Switzerland 8.91 million people compare
- 86 Bolivia 8.89 million people compare
- 87 Somalia 8.45 million people compare
- 89 Burkina Faso 7.49 million people compare
- 90 Turkmenistan 7.47 million people compare
- 91 Kyrgyzstan 7.08 million people 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)
- 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)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia?
- People using at least basic sanitation facilities in Zambia was 7.99 million people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.99 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.11 million people in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
- Zambia ranks 88th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation facilities rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households.