Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia

Zambia: Proportion of population practising open defecation was 2.05 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
2.05
Change on year
down 32.1%
World rank
67th
of 231 countries
All-time high
29.61
in 2000
All-time low
2.05
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia, 2000–2024

01020302000201220242000: 29.62001: 28.42002: 27.12003: 25.82004: 24.52005: 23.22006: 222007: 20.82008: 19.52009: 18.32010: 17.12011: 162012: 14.82013: 13.62014: 12.52015: 11.42016: 10.32017: 9.22018: 8.12019: 7.12020: 62021: 52022: 42023: 32024: 2

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 64 Indonesia 2.29 compare
  2. 65 Philippines 2.18 compare
  3. 66 Colombia 2.09 compare
  4. 68 Burundi 1.97 compare
  5. 69 Malawi 1.94 compare
  6. 70 Peru 1.92 compare

See the full ranking of 292 places →

More population data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

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.

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Proportion of population practising open defecation in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practising-open-defecation-sanitation/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population practising open defecation (Sanitation)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
292 places, 6,980 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed