People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia
Zambia: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was -0.4197 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia, 2001–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2024, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia stood at -0.4197 % change on previous year. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.9% on the previous year and down 179.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia peaked at 1.29 % change on previous year in 2001 and was at its lowest, -0.4197 % change on previous year, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 52nd of 163 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.29 % change on previous year | — |
| 2002 | 0.8931 % change on previous year | -30.6% |
| 2003 | 0.887 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 0.9286 % change on previous year | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 1.02 % change on previous year | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 1.13 % change on previous year | +10.8% |
| 2007 | 1.18 % change on previous year | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 1.18 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 1.12 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 1 % change on previous year | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 0.8285 % change on previous year | -17.5% |
| 2012 | 0.6977 % change on previous year | -15.8% |
| 2013 | 0.6069 % change on previous year | -13.0% |
| 2014 | 0.5274 % change on previous year | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 0.4216 % change on previous year | -20.1% |
| 2016 | 0.3437 % change on previous year | -18.5% |
| 2017 | 0.2619 % change on previous year | -23.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1433 % change on previous year | -45.3% |
| 2019 | 0.0419 % change on previous year | -70.8% |
| 2020 | -0.0745 % change on previous year | -278.1% |
| 2021 | -0.224 % change on previous year | +200.6% |
| 2022 | -0.3385 % change on previous year | +51.1% |
| 2023 | -0.3717 % change on previous year | +9.8% |
| 2024 | -0.4197 % change on previous year | +12.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's -0.4197 % change on previous year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -0.5815 % change on previous year, 72% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's -0.4197 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.3845 % change on previous year. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -278.1% | 0.0419 % change on previous year | -0.0745 % change on previous year |
| 2021 | -200.6% | -0.0745 % change on previous year | -0.224 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.07 % change on previous year | 0.887 % change on previous year | 1.29 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2010s | 0.4877 % change on previous year | 0.0419 % change on previous year | 1 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2857 % change on previous year | -0.4197 % change on previous year | -0.0745 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 49 Tanzania -0.3794 % change on previous year compare
- 50 Eritrea -0.3942 % change on previous year compare
- 51 Finland -0.41 % change on previous year compare
- 53 North Korea -0.4371 % change on previous year compare
- 54 Tonga -0.4681 % change on previous year compare
- 55 Argentina -0.4999 % change on previous year 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 people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia was -0.4197 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.29 % change on previous year in 2001.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4197 % change on previous year in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Zambia ranks 52nd out of 163 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 179.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.