People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population) in Zambia
Zambia: People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population) was 3.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People practicing open defecation, rural in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.2% for people practicing open defecation, rural in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 34.1% on the previous year and down 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation, rural in Zambia peaked at 43.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2024.
That places Zambia 66th out of 171 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.
People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.6% | — |
| 2001 | 42.0% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 40.3% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 38.6% | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 36.9% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 35.2% | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 33.5% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 31.9% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 30.2% | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 28.5% | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 26.8% | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 25.1% | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 23.4% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 21.8% | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 20.1% | -7.7% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 11.7% | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 8.3% | -16.9% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | -20.3% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | -25.4% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | -34.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.0%, 30% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7%, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population) in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -34.1% | 4.9% | 3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.1% | 28.5% | 43.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2% | 11.7% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.6% | 3.2% | 10.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 63 Indonesia 3.8% compare
- 64 Equatorial Guinea 3.6% compare
- 65 Philippines 3.2% compare
- 67 Suriname 3.2% compare
- 68 Gabon 2.6% compare
- 69 El Salvador 2.4% compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation, rural in Zambia?
- People practicing open defecation, rural in Zambia was 3.2% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest people practicing open defecation, rural recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 43.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation, rural recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for people practicing open defecation, rural?
- Zambia ranks 66th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people practicing open defecation, rural rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People practicing open defecation refers to the percentage of the population defecating in the open, such as in fields, forest, bushes, open bodies of water, on beaches, in other open spaces or disposed of with solid waste.