Share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of people practicing open defecation was 12.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe is 12.6%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe peaked at 33.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2024.
That places Zimbabwe 29th 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.
Share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.1% | — |
| 2001 | 32.9% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 31.8% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 31.0% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 30.2% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 29.3% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 28.5% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 27.7% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 26.8% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 26.0% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 24.3% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 23.5% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 22.6% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 21.7% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 20.9% | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 20.0% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 19.1% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 17.2% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 15.4% | -5.7% |
| 2022 | 14.4% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 13.5% | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 12.6% | -6.7% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 12.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 1.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 12.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.1%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.7% | 26.0% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 17.2% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.5% | 12.6% | 16.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 26 Sierra Leone 15.3% compare
- 27 Lesotho 14.8% compare
- 28 Somalia 14.4% compare
- 30 Democratic Republic of Congo 11.7% compare
- 31 Afghanistan 11.2% compare
- 32 Micronesia (country) 9.5% compare
More population data for Zimbabwe
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0944 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0209 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.49 million people (2100)
- Population density 96.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5219 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.94 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe?
- Share of people practicing open defecation in Zimbabwe was 12.6% 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 people practicing open defecation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 33.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of people practicing open defecation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2024.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of people practicing open defecation?
- Zimbabwe ranks 29th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people practicing open defecation rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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 people practicing open defecation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of people who practice open defecation. This includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.