Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 40.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe, 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe is 40.4%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe peaked at 63.5% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 40.4%, in 2021.
That places Zimbabwe 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 63.1% | — |
| 2001 | 63.1% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 63.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 63.4% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 63.5% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 62.2% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 60.9% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 59.5% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 58.2% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 56.9% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 55.5% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 54.2% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 52.8% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 51.5% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 50.1% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 48.7% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 47.4% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 46.0% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 44.6% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 43.2% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 41.8% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 40.4% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 40.4% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 40.4% | +0.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 40.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 62% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 40.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 83% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 61.4% | 56.9% | 63.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.4% | 43.2% | 55.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.7% | 40.4% | 41.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More population data for Zimbabwe
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0209 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0944 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 26,439 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.94 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5219 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 96.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.49 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Zimbabwe was 40.4% 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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 63.5% in 2004.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.4% in 2021.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Zimbabwe ranks 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.