Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Malawi
Malawi: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 48.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation 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
In 2024, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Malawi stood at 48.0%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Malawi peaked at 48.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 24.1%, in 2004.
Malawi ranks 164th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.2% | 24.1% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.2% | 32.2% | 44.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.3% | 45.5% | 48.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 35,510 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.6% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.65 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Malawi?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Malawi was 48.0% 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 vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.1% in 2004.
- How does Malawi rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Malawi ranks 164th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.