Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services was 54.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services 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 the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Zimbabwe is 54.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Zimbabwe peaked at 54.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 54.2%, in 2000.
That places Zimbabwe 161st out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54.2% | — |
| 2001 | 54.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 54.3% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 54.3% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 54.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 54.4% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 54.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 54.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 54.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 54.5% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 54.5% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 54.4% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 54.4% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 54.4% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 54.4% | -0.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 54.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 75.4%, 72% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 54.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.5%, 93% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.4% | 54.2% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.5% | 54.5% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.4% | 54.4% | 54.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More environment data for Zimbabwe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.19 % 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 1.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Zimbabwe?
- Share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services in Zimbabwe was 54.4% 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 the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 54.5% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.2% in 2000.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services?
- Zimbabwe ranks 161st out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 the rural population using at least a basic drinking water services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people who use an improved drinking water source, which is either located on their premises, or at a collection point, which takes no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.