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.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.2% | — |
| 2001 | 24.2% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 24.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 24.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 25.4% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 26.8% | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 28.2% | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 29.5% | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 30.9% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 32.2% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 33.6% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 34.9% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 36.2% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 37.6% | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 38.9% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 42.8% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 44.1% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 45.5% | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 46.7% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 48.0% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 48.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 48.0% | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 48.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 48.0%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 48.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 99% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
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 regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
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.
Download this data
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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.