Drinking water usage in urban areas in South Africa
South Africa: Drinking water usage in urban areas was 23,480 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Drinking water usage in urban areas in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, drinking water usage in urban areas in South Africa stood at 23,480 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drinking water usage in urban areas in South Africa peaked at 36,575 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 23,480 people, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 39th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35,135 people | 33,522 people | 36,575 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 30,825 people | 28,009 people | 33,081 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,449 people | 23,480 people | 27,262 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 569.81 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 8.9 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 25.85 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.31 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 40 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.1686 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 93.23 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.055 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1946 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 25.44 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drinking water usage in urban areas in South Africa?
- Drinking water usage in urban areas in South Africa was 23,480 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drinking water usage in urban areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36,575 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest drinking water usage in urban areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,480 people in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for drinking water usage in urban areas?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is drinking water usage in urban areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Drinking water usage in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people using drinking water directly collected from surface waters.