People without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia
Zambia: People without basic handwashing facilities was 17.40 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia, 2008–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia is 17.40 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia peaked at 17.40 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.85 million people, in 2008.
That places Zambia 25th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
People without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 10.85 million people | — |
| 2009 | 11.22 million people | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 11.60 million people | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 11.98 million people | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 12.36 million people | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 12.75 million people | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 13.15 million people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 13.55 million people | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 13.95 million people | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 14.37 million people | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 14.79 million people | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 15.21 million people | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 15.64 million people | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 16.07 million people | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 16.49 million people | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 16.94 million people | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 17.40 million people | +2.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 17.40 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.83 million people, 2.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 17.40 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.17 million people, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.03 million people | 10.85 million people | 11.22 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.37 million people | 11.60 million people | 15.21 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.51 million people | 15.64 million people | 17.40 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia?
- People without basic handwashing facilities in Zambia was 17.40 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 without basic handwashing facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.40 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people without basic handwashing facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.85 million people in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for people without basic handwashing facilities?
- Zambia ranks 25th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people without basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. 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 without basic handwashing facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People without access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.