Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia
Zambia: Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services was 31.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia stood at 31.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 49.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia peaked at 31.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2000.
That places Zambia 69th out of 100 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.3% | — |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 9.1% | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 10.0% | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 11.0% | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 12.9% | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 13.8% | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 14.8% | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 15.8% | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 17.8% | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 18.9% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 19.9% | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 21.0% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 22.0% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 23.1% | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 24.2% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 25.3% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 26.4% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 27.5% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 28.4% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 30.3% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 31.3% | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.5% | 7.3% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.5% | 16.8% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 27.5% | 31.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- 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)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia?
- Share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services in Zambia was 31.3% 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 urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services?
- Zambia ranks 69th out of 100 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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 urban and rural population using safely managed sanitation services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed in situ or transported and treated off-site.