Sanitation
ZAMBIA SANITATION KEY FIGURES
| Basic Sanitation Access (2023) | Annual Cost of Poor WASH | Under-5 Deaths from Diarrhoea | Vision 2030 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36% | USD 194 million | ~10% of all under-5 deaths | 90% coverage |
Only about 36% of Zambia’s population had access to basic sanitation as of 2023, a level the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation describes as having remained almost stagnant for 15 years, with poor sanitation and hygiene access costing the country an estimated USD 194 million a year.
Diarrhoea linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene access is the second leading cause of death among children under five in Zambia, averaging 10% of all deaths in that age group, against a Vision 2030 target of 90% sanitation coverage.
Access Levels and Health Impact
As of 2023, about 36% of Zambia’s population had access to basic sanitation, a level the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation describes as having remained almost stagnant for 15 years against a growing population[1]. Poor water, sanitation and hygiene access costs Zambia an estimated USD 194 million a year, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, more than the formal water and sanitation sector’s entire measured GDP contribution, and diarrhoea linked to inadequate access is the second leading cause of death among children under five, averaging 10% of all deaths in that age group[1].
Infrastructure Response
During the 2023/2024 drought season, the government built 45 sanitation facilities as part of a broader emergency response that also included drilling boreholes and rehabilitating non-functional water points[2]. A USD 33 million Water Supply and Sanitation Services in Growth Centres programme became effective in September 2025, with implementation units staffed and boards appointed across all four participating utilities[1].
Policy Framework
The 2024 National Water Policy, currently under implementation, emphasises equitable access, climate resilience and efficient water use across all sectors of the economy[2]. The Water Supply and Sanitation Services Bill passed its Third Reading in Parliament on May 4, 2026, a step intended to strengthen the legal framework for service provision and improve regulation of the country’s commercial water and sanitation utilities[2].
Investment Opportunities
Zambia’s Vision 2030 targets 90% sanitation coverage, a gap from today’s 36% level that implies a large, government-prioritised pipeline of sanitation infrastructure work over the coming years[1]. The USD 194 million annual cost of poor water, sanitation and hygiene access, larger than the formal sector’s own measured GDP contribution, also quantifies the scale of the economic case for closing that gap, detailed further on the dedicated Water page[1].
Last Update: September 2026
