Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation) in Zambia
Zambia: Proportion of population practising open defecation was 2.05 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia is 2.05, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 32.1% on the previous year and down 83.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia peaked at 29.61 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.05, in 2024.
That places Zambia 67th out of 231 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.
Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.61 | — |
| 2001 | 28.4 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 27.09 | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 25.79 | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 24.51 | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 23.25 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 22 | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 20.76 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 19.54 | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 18.33 | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 17.14 | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 15.96 | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 14.79 | -7.3% |
| 2013 | 13.64 | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 12.51 | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 11.39 | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 10.28 | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 9.2 | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 8.12 | -11.7% |
| 2019 | 7.07 | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 6.03 | -14.7% |
| 2021 | 5.01 | -17.0% |
| 2022 | 4 | -20.1% |
| 2023 | 3.01 | -24.7% |
| 2024 | 2.05 | -32.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.05 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.74, 30% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.05 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.15, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -32.1% | 3.01 | 2.05 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.93 | 18.33 | 29.61 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.01 | 7.07 | 17.14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.02 | 2.05 | 6.03 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,460 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2495 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.60 million people (2100)
- Population density 86.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia?
- Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia was 2.05 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.61 in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practising open defecation recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.05 in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for proportion of population practising open defecation?
- Zambia ranks 67th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practising open defecation rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).