People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia
Zambia: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 6.57 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 6.57 million people, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia peaked at 6.67 million people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.77 million people, in 2000.
Zambia ranks 28th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.77 million people | — |
| 2001 | 5.85 million people | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 5.90 million people | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5.95 million people | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 6.01 million people | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 6.07 million people | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 6.14 million people | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 6.21 million people | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 6.28 million people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 6.35 million people | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 6.42 million people | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 6.47 million people | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 6.51 million people | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 6.55 million people | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 6.59 million people | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 6.62 million people | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 6.64 million people | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 6.66 million people | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 6.67 million people | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 6.67 million people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6.66 million people | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 6.65 million people | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 6.63 million people | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 6.60 million people | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 6.57 million people | -0.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 6.57 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.54 million people, 4.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 6.57 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.04 million people, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.05 million people | 5.77 million people | 6.35 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.58 million people | 6.42 million people | 6.67 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.62 million people | 6.57 million people | 6.66 million people | 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 people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia was 6.57 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.67 million people in 2019.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.77 million people in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Zambia ranks 28th out of 175 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 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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.