People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Malawi
Malawi: People not using safely managed sanitation facilities was 11.66 million people in 2024. ▬ Flat
People not using safely managed 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
In 2024, people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Malawi stood at 11.66 million people.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Malawi peaked at 11.74 million people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 10.43 million people, in 2000.
That places Malawi 43rd out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.43 million people | — |
| 2001 | 10.68 million people | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 10.95 million people | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 11.22 million people | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 11.52 million people | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 11.55 million people | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 11.58 million people | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 11.62 million people | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 11.65 million people | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 11.69 million people | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 11.72 million people | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 11.74 million people | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 11.74 million people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11.74 million people | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 11.72 million people | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 11.68 million people | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 11.63 million people | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 11.57 million people | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 11.50 million people | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 11.41 million people | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 11.31 million people | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 11.20 million people | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 11.07 million people | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 11.36 million people | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 11.66 million people | +2.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 11.66 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.58 million people, 60% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 11.66 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.78 million people, 69% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.29 million people | 10.43 million people | 11.69 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.65 million people | 11.41 million people | 11.74 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.32 million people | 11.07 million people | 11.66 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Malawi?
- People not using safely managed sanitation facilities in Malawi was 11.66 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 not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 11.74 million people in 2012.
- What is the lowest people not using safely managed sanitation facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.43 million people in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for people not using safely managed sanitation facilities?
- Malawi ranks 43rd out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using safely managed sanitation facilities rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 not using safely managed 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
People not using safely managed sanitation services might practice open defecation, use unimproved sanitation facilities, or use improved facilities that do not safely manage human waste.