People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia
Zambia: People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre was 11.46 people per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in people per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia stood at 11.46 people per square kilometre.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia peaked at 11.47 people per square kilometre in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.36 people per square kilometre, in 2000.
Zambia ranks 60th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.36 people per square kilometre | — |
| 2001 | 9.49 people per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 9.6 people per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 9.71 people per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 9.83 people per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 9.96 people per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 10.1 people per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 10.25 people per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 10.41 people per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 10.55 people per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 10.69 people per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 10.81 people per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 10.92 people per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 11.02 people per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 11.12 people per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 11.2 people per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 11.27 people per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 11.34 people per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 11.39 people per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 11.43 people per square kilometre | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 11.46 people per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 11.47 people per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 11.47 people per square kilometre | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.46 people per square kilometre | -0.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.46 people per square kilometre is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.28 people per square kilometre, 93% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.46 people per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.84 people per square kilometre, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.93 people per square kilometre | 9.36 people per square kilometre | 10.55 people per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.12 people per square kilometre | 10.69 people per square kilometre | 11.43 people per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.46 people per square kilometre | 11.46 people per square kilometre | 11.47 people per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 57 Chad 12.5 people per square kilometre compare
- 58 Vietnam 12.28 people per square kilometre compare
- 59 Myanmar 11.69 people per square kilometre compare
- 61 Tuvalu 11.4 people per square kilometre compare
- 62 Somalia 10.9 people per square kilometre compare
- 63 Cambodia 10.29 people per square kilometre 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 not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre in Zambia was 11.46 people per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.47 people per square kilometre in 2021.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.36 people per square kilometre in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre?
- Zambia ranks 60th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of People not using improved sanitation facilities, per square kilometre. 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
People not using improved sanitation facilities divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
People not using improved sanitation facilities ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- People not using improved sanitation facilities WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
People not using improved sanitation facilities divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.