Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Malawi
Malawi: Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities was 15.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of population with access to basic handwashing 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 %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Malawi is 15.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Malawi peaked at 15.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2017.
That places Malawi 114th out of 120 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.5% | — |
| 2001 | 15.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 15.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 15.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 15.3% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 15.3% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 15.3% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 15.3% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 15.3% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 15.4% | +0.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.4%, 80% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.2%, 69% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.4% | 15.3% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- 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)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Malawi?
- Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities in Malawi was 15.4% 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 population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2017.
- How does Malawi rank for share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities?
- Malawi ranks 114th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Share of population with access to basic handwashing facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people with access to a handwashing facility with soap and water available at home.