Ghana vs South Africa: Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source
Ghana
89.9%
in 2024
South Africa
90.2%
in 2024
Ghana rank
172nd
South Africa rank
170th
Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source over time
- Ghana
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 90.2% against 89.9% in Ghana, a difference of 0.3%.
Across all 25 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
Ghana ranks 172nd and South Africa ranks 170th of 231 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ghana | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 69.9% | 88.2% | 18.3% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 80.1% | 91.7% | 11.6% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 87.9% | 90.7% | 2.8% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of population using at least a basic drinking water source, Ghana or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 90.2% against 89.9% in Ghana as of 2024.
- What is the difference in share of population using at least a basic drinking water source between Ghana and South Africa?
- 0.3%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ghana and South Africa?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do Ghana and South Africa rank globally for share of population using at least a basic drinking water source?
- Ghana ranks 172nd and South Africa ranks 170th of 231 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of population using at least a basic drinking water source. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Proportion of people who use an improved drinking water source, which is either located on their premises, or at a collection point, which takes no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.