People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities was 5.56 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zimbabwe, 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
In 2024, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zimbabwe stood at 5.56 million people. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zimbabwe peaked at 5.56 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.01 million people, in 2000.
Zimbabwe ranks 32nd 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.01 million people | — |
| 2001 | 4.02 million people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 4.02 million people | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 4.07 million people | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 4.12 million people | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 4.17 million people | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 4.23 million people | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 4.29 million people | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 4.35 million people | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 4.42 million people | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 4.50 million people | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 4.58 million people | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 4.66 million people | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 4.74 million people | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 4.81 million people | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 4.87 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 4.94 million people | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 5.01 million people | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 5.08 million people | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 5.16 million people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 5.23 million people | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 5.31 million people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 5.40 million people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 5.48 million people | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 5.56 million people | +1.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 5.56 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.54 million people, 3.6× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 5.56 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.04 million people, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.17 million people | 4.01 million people | 4.42 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.84 million people | 4.50 million people | 5.16 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.40 million people | 5.23 million people | 5.56 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (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 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zimbabwe?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities in Zimbabwe was 5.56 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 5.56 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.01 million people in 2000.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Zimbabwe ranks 32nd out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.