Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi
Malawi: Share of population using safely managed sanitation was 46.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of population using safely managed sanitation 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 %.
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.
Share of population using safely managed sanitation in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.8% | — |
| 2001 | 7.8% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 10.1% | +28.0% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | +21.8% |
| 2007 | 14.4% | +17.8% |
| 2008 | 16.6% | +15.1% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | +13.1% |
| 2010 | 20.9% | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 23.1% | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 25.2% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 27.4% | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 29.5% | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 31.6% | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 33.7% | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 35.8% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 37.9% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 40.0% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 42.1% | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 44.1% | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 46.2% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 46.2% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 46.2% | -0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 46.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 20.0%, 2.3× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 46.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.6%, 2.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
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 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
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.