People using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi

Malawi: People using at least basic sanitation services was 49.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
49.2%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
176th
of 214 countries
All-time high
49.2%
in 2022
All-time low
9.4%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

People using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi, 2000–2024

10203040502000201220242000: 9.4 % of population2001: 9.4 % of population2002: 9.4 % of population2003: 9.4 % of population2004: 9.4 % of population2005: 11.6 % of population2006: 13.9 % of population2007: 16.2 % of population2008: 18.4 % of population2009: 20.7 % of population2010: 23 % of population2011: 25.2 % of population2012: 27.4 % of population2013: 29.6 % of population2014: 31.9 % of population2015: 34.1 % of population2016: 36.3 % of population2017: 38.5 % of population2018: 40.6 % of population2019: 42.8 % of population2020: 45 % of population2021: 47.1 % of population2022: 49.2 % of population2023: 49.2 % of population2024: 49.2 % of population

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of population.

Analysis

Malawi recorded 49.2% for people using at least basic sanitation services in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 54.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi peaked at 49.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2000.

Malawi ranks 176th of 214 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.8% 9.4% 20.7% 10
2010s 32.9% 23.0% 42.8% 10
2020s 48.0% 45.0% 49.2% 5

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 173 Comoros 57.2% compare
  2. 174 Afghanistan 54.5% compare
  3. 175 Angola 50.3% compare
  4. 177 Sao Tome and Principe 48.7% compare
  5. 178 Gambia 48.2% compare
  6. 179 Nigeria 47.9% compare

See the full ranking of 261 places →

More health data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is people using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi?
People using at least basic sanitation services in Malawi was 49.2% 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 recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 49.2% in 2022.
What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2000.
How does Malawi rank for people using at least basic sanitation services?
Malawi ranks 176th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
Is people using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 54.5%. 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 (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
261 places, 6,338 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

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.