People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi
Malawi: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 4.69 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi, 2000–2024
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 in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi is 4.69 million people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 38.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi peaked at 9.59 million people in 2004 and was at its lowest, 4.49 million people, in 2022.
That places Malawi 36th out of 175 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.15 million people | 8.72 million people | 9.59 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.40 million people | 5.87 million people | 8.64 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.84 million people | 4.49 million people | 5.43 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0372 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.606 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3659 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.9529 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.5269 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 1,313 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi was 4.69 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 in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 9.59 million people in 2004.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.49 million people in 2022.
- How does Malawi rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Malawi ranks 36th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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 in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities. 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).
About this data
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.