Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 was 17.4% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in Zambia, 1996–2018
Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Measured in highest.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in Zambia is 17.4%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in Zambia peaked at 26.7% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 17.4%, in 2018.
That places Zambia 11th out of 40 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | highest | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 26.7% | — |
| 1999 | 19.1% | -28.5% |
| 2002 | 21.8% | +14.1% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 18.8% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | -7.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 17.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.4%, 1.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 17.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.8%, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.9% | 19.1% | 26.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 20.0% | 21.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.1% | 17.4% | 18.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in Zambia?
- Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in Zambia was 17.4% in 2018, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
- What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.7% in 1996.
- What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.4% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5?
- Zambia ranks 11th out of 40 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. 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): Q5 (highest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of diarrhea: Percentage of children under age five years who had diarrhea in the two weeks preceding the survey.