How many years of comparable data are there for Malawi and Zambia?

25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.

Where does this data come from?

WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Malawi vs Zambia: Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities

Malawi

48.0%

in 2024

Zambia

43.3%

in 2024

Malawi rank

164th

Zambia rank

167th

Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities over time

Malawi
Zambia

How they compare

Malawi currently reports 48.0% against 43.3% in Zambia, a difference of 4.7%.

That makes Malawi's figure about 1.1 times Zambia's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 25 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Zambia ahead.

Malawi ranks 164th and Zambia ranks 167th of 186 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Malawi averaged higher in 1 and Zambia in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malawi	Zambia	Difference	Ahead
2000s	26.2%	45.2%	19.0%	Zambia
2010s	38.2%	43.4%	5.1%	Zambia
2020s	47.3%	42.6%	4.6%	Malawi

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities, Malawi or Zambia?: Malawi, at 48.0% against 43.3% in Zambia as of 2024.
What is the difference in share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities between Malawi and Zambia?: 4.7%, with Malawi ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malawi and Zambia?: 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Malawi and Zambia rank globally for share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities?: Malawi ranks 164th and Zambia ranks 167th of 186 countries.
Where does this data come from?: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malawi vs Zambia: Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/compare/share-of-urban-population-with-improved-sanitation-facilities/malawi/zambia/

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<a href="https://population.statizoid.com/compare/share-of-urban-population-with-improved-sanitation-facilities/malawi/zambia/">Malawi vs Zambia: Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Share of urban population using at least basic sanitation facilities
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: 186 places, 4,556 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.