People using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi
Malawi: People using improved sanitation facilities was 16.44 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People using improved sanitation facilities 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 people.
Analysis
In 2024, people using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi stood at 16.44 million people. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 103.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi peaked at 16.44 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.65 million people, in 2000.
That places Malawi 62nd out of 232 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.
People using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.65 million people | — |
| 2001 | 1.69 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 1.73 million people | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 1.78 million people | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 1.83 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 2.32 million people | +26.6% |
| 2006 | 2.83 million people | +22.2% |
| 2007 | 3.38 million people | +19.2% |
| 2008 | 3.95 million people | +17.0% |
| 2009 | 4.56 million people | +15.4% |
| 2010 | 5.20 million people | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 5.87 million people | +12.9% |
| 2012 | 6.58 million people | +12.0% |
| 2013 | 7.32 million people | +11.2% |
| 2014 | 8.09 million people | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 8.90 million people | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 9.74 million people | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 10.62 million people | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 11.54 million people | +8.6% |
| 2019 | 12.49 million people | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 13.49 million people | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 14.52 million people | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 15.60 million people | +7.4% |
| 2023 | 16.01 million people | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 16.44 million people | +2.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 16.44 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.05 million people, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 16.44 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.64 million people, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.57 million people | 1.65 million people | 4.56 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.63 million people | 5.20 million people | 12.49 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.21 million people | 13.49 million people | 16.44 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1183 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi?
- People using improved sanitation facilities in Malawi was 16.44 million people 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 people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 16.44 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.65 million people in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for people using improved sanitation facilities?
- Malawi ranks 62nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.2%. 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 People 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
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.