Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Zambia
Zambia: Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 9.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities 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
In 2024, share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Zambia stood at 9.2%. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Zambia peaked at 9.2% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2008.
Zambia ranks 109th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 9.2% | — |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 9.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 32.2%, 29% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 9.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.7%, 52% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 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)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Zambia?
- Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Zambia was 9.2% 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 share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Zambia ranks 109th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities 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 Share of rural population with access to basic handwashing facilities. 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.