Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia

Zambia: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 2.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
2.0%
Change on year
down 32.1%
World rank
57th
of 213 countries
All-time high
29.6%
in 2000
All-time low
2.0%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia, 2000–2024

01020302000201220242000: 29.62001: 28.42002: 27.12003: 25.82004: 24.52005: 23.22006: 222007: 20.82008: 19.52009: 18.32010: 17.12011: 162012: 14.82013: 13.62014: 12.52015: 11.42016: 10.32017: 9.22018: 8.12019: 7.12020: 62021: 52022: 42023: 32024: 2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia stood at 2.0%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 32.1% on the previous year and down 83.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia peaked at 29.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2024.

Zambia ranks 57th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%) in Zambia, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 29.6%
2001 28.4% -4.1%
2002 27.1% -4.6%
2003 25.8% -4.8%
2004 24.5% -5.0%
2005 23.2% -5.2%
2006 22.0% -5.4%
2007 20.8% -5.6%
2008 19.5% -5.9%
2009 18.3% -6.2%
2010 17.1% -6.5%
2011 16.0% -6.9%
2012 14.8% -7.3%
2013 13.6% -7.8%
2014 12.5% -8.3%
2015 11.4% -9.0%
2016 10.3% -9.7%
2017 9.2% -10.6%
2018 8.1% -11.7%
2019 7.1% -13.0%
2020 6.0% -14.7%
2021 5.0% -17.0%
2022 4.0% -20.1%
2023 3.0% -24.7%
2024 2.0% -32.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23.9% 18.3% 29.6% 10
2010s 12.0% 7.1% 17.1% 10
2020s 4.0% 2.0% 6.0% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 54 Indonesia 2.3% compare
  2. 55 Philippines 2.2% compare
  3. 56 Colombia 2.1% compare
  4. 58 Burundi 2.0% compare
  5. 59 Malawi 1.9% compare
  6. 60 Peru 1.9% compare

See the full ranking of 268 places →

More infrastructure data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia?
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia was 2.0% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2024.
How does Zambia rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
Zambia ranks 57th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 83.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-practicing-open-defecation-by-urban-rural-percent/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
268 places, 6,379 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed