Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Zambia
Zambia: Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas was 28.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas 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 %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 28.7% for access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in 2024. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Zambia peaked at 28.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2008.
That places Zambia 96th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 28.7% | — |
| 2009 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 28.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 62.4%, 46% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 28.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.3%, 86% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.7% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.7% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.7% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 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 access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Zambia?
- Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas in Zambia was 28.7% 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 access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas?
- Zambia ranks 96th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Access to basic handwashing facilities in urban vs. rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.