Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia
Zambia: Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location was 37.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia stood at 37.5%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia peaked at 37.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2000.
That places Zambia 225th out of 249 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.0% | — |
| 2001 | 21.7% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 22.4% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 23.1% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 23.9% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 24.6% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 26.0% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 26.7% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 27.4% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 28.1% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 29.4% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 30.1% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 30.8% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 31.4% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 32.0% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 33.3% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 33.9% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 34.5% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 35.2% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 36.0% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 36.7% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 37.5% | +2.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 37.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 58.0%, 65% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 37.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 40.9%, 92% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.2% | 21.0% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 28.1% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.0% | 34.5% | 37.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 223 Namibia 38.7% compare
- 224 Mozambique 38.6% compare
- 226 United Republic of Tanzania 37.2% compare
- 227 Solomon Islands 34.6% compare
- 228 Zimbabwe 34.6% compare
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % 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 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia?
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location in Zambia was 37.5% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location?
- Zambia ranks 225th out of 249 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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