Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zambia
Zambia: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 43.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation 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
Zambia recorded 43.3% for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zambia peaked at 45.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 42.0%, in 2020.
Zambia ranks 167th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.2% | 44.5% | 45.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.4% | 42.3% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.6% | 42.0% | 43.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 79,275 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.8% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 4.1 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zambia?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zambia was 43.3% 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 vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.0% in 2020.
- How does Zambia rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Zambia ranks 167th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 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.