Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia
Zambia: Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas was 3.25 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia is 3.25, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 34.1% on the previous year and down 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia peaked at 43.63 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.25, in 2024.
That places Zambia 67th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.63 | — |
| 2001 | 41.95 | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 40.27 | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 38.59 | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 36.9 | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 35.22 | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 33.54 | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 31.86 | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 30.17 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 28.49 | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 26.81 | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 25.12 | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 23.44 | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 21.76 | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 20.08 | -7.7% |
| 2015 | 18.39 | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 16.71 | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 15.03 | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 13.35 | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 11.66 | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 9.98 | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 8.3 | -16.9% |
| 2022 | 6.61 | -20.3% |
| 2023 | 4.93 | -25.4% |
| 2024 | 3.25 | -34.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.25 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.97, 30% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.25 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -34.1% | 4.93 | 3.25 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.06 | 28.49 | 43.63 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.24 | 11.66 | 26.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.61 | 3.25 | 9.98 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 64 Indonesia 3.84 compare
- 65 Equatorial Guinea 3.63 compare
- 66 Philippines 3.25 compare
- 68 Suriname 3.25 compare
- 69 Gabon 2.62 compare
- 70 El Salvador 2.43 compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- 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)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia?
- Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas in Zambia was 3.25 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 43.63 in 2000.
- What is the lowest open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.25 in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas?
- Zambia ranks 67th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Open defecation in rural areas vs urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).