Population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi
Malawi: Population using at least basic sanitation services was 49.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi is 49.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 60.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi peaked at 49.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2004.
That places Malawi 130th out of 174 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.8% | — |
| 2001 | 6.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 9.2% | +35.9% |
| 2006 | 11.6% | +26.3% |
| 2007 | 14.0% | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | +17.2% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | +14.6% |
| 2010 | 21.2% | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 23.6% | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 30.8% | +8.4% |
| 2015 | 33.1% | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 35.5% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 37.8% | +6.6% |
| 2018 | 40.2% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 42.5% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 44.9% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 47.2% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 49.5% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 49.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 49.5% | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 49.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 22.5%, 2.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 49.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.6%, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.4% | 6.8% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.9% | 21.2% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.1% | 44.9% | 49.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More environment data for Malawi
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.9153 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.8098 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.07 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 5.3 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi?
- Population using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi was 49.5% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest population using at least basic sanitation services recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest population using at least basic sanitation services recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2004.
- How does Malawi rank for population using at least basic sanitation services?
- Malawi ranks 130th out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Population using at least basic sanitation services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).