Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Zambia

Zambia: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 was 21.1% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
21.1%
World rank
7th
of 40 countries
All-time high
29.8%
in 1996
All-time low
18.3%
in 2007
Years of data
6
1996–2018

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Zambia, 1996–2018

01020301996200720181996: 29.81999: 18.52002: 282007: 18.32014: 21.42018: 21.1

Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).

Analysis

In 2018, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 in Zambia stood at 21.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 in Zambia peaked at 29.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 18.3%, in 2007.

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

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Zambia, 1996 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1996 29.8%
1999 18.5% -37.9%
2002 28.0% +51.4%
2007 18.3% -34.6%
2014 21.4% +16.9%
2018 21.1% -1.4%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 21.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.4%, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 21.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.1%, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 24.1% 18.5% 29.8% 2
2000s 23.1% 18.3% 28.0% 2
2010s 21.2% 21.1% 21.4% 2

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 4 Malawi 27.4% compare
  2. 5 Uganda 26.2% compare
  3. 6 Gambia 22.2% compare
  4. 8 Kenya 20.3% compare
  5. 8 Rwanda 20.3% compare
  6. 10 Mali 20.1% 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): q3 in Zambia?
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 in Zambia was 21.1% in 2018, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 1996.
What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 18.3% in 2007.
How does Zambia rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3?
Zambia ranks 7th out of 40 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q3 rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. 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): Q3. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3 in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-diarrhea-percent-of-children-under-5-q3/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q3
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.