People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Malawi
Malawi: People using at least basic sanitation services, rural was 49.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Malawi, 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
Malawi recorded 49.5% for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural 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, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Malawi peaked at 49.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2004.
That places Malawi 127th 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 using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | 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% |
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 health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,158 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Malawi?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Malawi was 49.5% 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 using at least basic sanitation services, rural recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, rural recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2004.
- How does Malawi rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural?
- Malawi ranks 127th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural 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 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The percentage of people using at least basic sanitation services, that is, improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households. This indicator encompasses both people using basic sanitation services as well as those using safely managed sanitation services. Improved sanitation facilities include flush/pour flush to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; ventilated improved pit latrines, composting toilets or pit latrines with slabs.