Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi

Malawi: Share of population using safely managed sanitation was 46.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
46.2%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
94th
of 150 countries
All-time high
46.2%
in 2022
All-time low
7.8%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi, 2000–2024

10203040502000201220242000: 7.8 %2001: 7.8 %2002: 7.8 %2003: 7.9 %2004: 7.9 %2005: 10.1 %2006: 12.3 %2007: 14.4 %2008: 16.6 %2009: 18.8 %2010: 20.9 %2011: 23.1 %2012: 25.2 %2013: 27.4 %2014: 29.5 %2015: 31.6 %2016: 33.7 %2017: 35.8 %2018: 37.9 %2019: 40 %2020: 42.1 %2021: 44.1 %2022: 46.2 %2023: 46.2 %2024: 46.2 %

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Malawi recorded 46.2% for share of population using safely managed sanitation in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 56.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi peaked at 46.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 2000.

That places Malawi 94th out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.1% 7.8% 18.8% 10
2010s 30.5% 20.9% 40.0% 10
2020s 45.0% 42.1% 46.2% 5

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 91 Ecuador 49.3% compare
  2. 92 Argentina 48.5% compare
  3. 93 Fiji 48.5% compare
  4. 95 Cuba 45.9% compare
  5. 96 Vietnam 45.4% compare
  6. 97 Samoa 44.1% compare

See the full ranking of 150 places →

More reference data data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi?
Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi was 46.2% 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 population using safely managed sanitation recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 46.2% in 2022.
What is the lowest share of population using safely managed sanitation recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 2000.
How does Malawi rank for share of population using safely managed sanitation?
Malawi ranks 94th out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of population using safely managed sanitation rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 56.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Share of population using safely managed sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population using safely managed sanitation
Unit
%
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
150 places, 3,667 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed in situ or transported and treated off-site.