Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Zambia

Zambia: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 was 24.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
24.0%
World rank
7th
of 40 countries
All-time high
32.2%
in 1996
All-time low
16.3%
in 1999
Years of data
6
1996–2018

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Zambia, 1996–2018

01020301996200720181996: 32.2 lowest1999: 16.3 lowest2002: 29.2 lowest2007: 19 lowest2014: 19.6 lowest2018: 24 lowest

Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Measured in lowest.

Analysis

Zambia recorded 24.0% for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in 2018.

The figure is up 26.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Zambia peaked at 32.2% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 16.3%, in 1999.

Zambia ranks 7th of 40 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 (lowest) in Zambia, 1996 to 2018.
Year lowest Change
1996 32.2%
1999 16.3% -49.4%
2002 29.2% +79.1%
2007 19.0% -34.9%
2014 19.6% +3.2%
2018 24.0% +22.4%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 24.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.0%, 1.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 24.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 24.2% 16.3% 32.2% 2
2000s 24.1% 19.0% 29.2% 2
2010s 21.8% 19.6% 24.0% 2

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 5 Gambia 27.1% compare
  2. 6 Chad 25.3% compare
  3. 8 Togo 23.5% compare
  4. 9 Kenya 23.2% compare
  5. 9 Mali 23.2% compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More health data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Zambia?
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 in Zambia was 24.0% in 2018, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 1996.
What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 16.3% in 1999.
How does Zambia rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1?
Zambia ranks 7th out of 40 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q1 rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from Household Surveys (DHS, MICS), published as part of Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 (lowest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-diarrhea-percent-of-children-under-5-q1-lowest/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q1 (lowest)
Unit
lowest
Source
Household Surveys (DHS, MICS)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
40 places, 248 data points, 1990–2021
Last refreshed

Prevalence of diarrhea: Percentage of children under age five years who had diarrhea in the two weeks preceding the survey.