Population using at least basic sanitation services in South Africa

South Africa: Population using at least basic sanitation services was 79.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
79.3%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
105th
of 174 countries
All-time high
79.3%
in 2024
All-time low
45.3%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Population using at least basic sanitation services in South Africa, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 45.32001: 46.62002: 47.92003: 49.22004: 50.52005: 51.82006: 53.22007: 54.52008: 55.92009: 57.22010: 58.62011: 602012: 61.42013: 62.82014: 64.32015: 65.72016: 67.22017: 68.62018: 70.12019: 71.62020: 73.12021: 74.62022: 76.22023: 77.72024: 79.3

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

In 2024, population using at least basic sanitation services in South Africa stood at 79.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population using at least basic sanitation services in South Africa peaked at 79.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 45.3%, in 2000.

That places South Africa 105th out of 174 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 51.2% 45.3% 57.2% 10
2010s 65.0% 58.6% 71.6% 10
2020s 76.2% 73.1% 79.3% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

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  6. 108 Cape Verde 76.6% compare

See the full ranking of 182 places →

More environment data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is population using at least basic sanitation services in South Africa?
Population using at least basic sanitation services in South Africa was 79.3% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest population using at least basic sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 79.3% in 2024.
What is the lowest population using at least basic sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 45.3% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for population using at least basic sanitation services?
South Africa ranks 105th out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
Is population using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Population using at least basic sanitation services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).

About this data

Indicator
Population using at least basic sanitation services (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
182 places, 4,444 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed