Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia
Zambia: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 39.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 39.9% for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia peaked at 69.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 39.9%, in 2024.
That places Zambia 25th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.8% | 58.2% | 69.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 45.9% | 56.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.3% | 39.9% | 44.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in Zambia was 39.9% 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 not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 69.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.9% in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- Zambia ranks 25th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 population 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.