Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation) in Malawi
Malawi: Proportion of population practising open defecation was 1.94 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 1.94 for proportion of population practising open defecation in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 20.8% on the previous year and down 72.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Malawi peaked at 14.6 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.94, in 2024.
Malawi ranks 69th of 231 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.6 | — |
| 2001 | 14.06 | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 13.53 | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 12.99 | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 12.46 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 11.92 | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 11.39 | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 10.86 | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 10.33 | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 9.8 | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 9.27 | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 8.74 | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 8.21 | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 7.68 | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 7.15 | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 6.62 | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 6.09 | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 5.57 | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 5.04 | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 4.52 | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 4 | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 3.48 | -12.9% |
| 2022 | 2.97 | -14.8% |
| 2023 | 2.45 | -17.3% |
| 2024 | 1.94 | -20.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.94 is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.44, 13% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.94 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.15, 16% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.19 | 9.8 | 14.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.89 | 4.52 | 9.27 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.97 | 1.94 | 4 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Malawi?
- Proportion of population practising open defecation in Malawi was 1.94 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6 in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.94 in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
- Malawi ranks 69th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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