Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by was 73.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
73.8%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
67th
of 159 countries
All-time high
73.8%
in 2024
All-time low
47.4%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 47.4 %2001: 48 %2002: 48.6 %2003: 49.2 %2004: 49.8 %2005: 50.4 %2006: 51 %2007: 51.6 %2008: 52.2 %2009: 52.7 %2010: 53.3 %2011: 53.8 %2012: 54.4 %2013: 54.9 %2014: 55.4 %2015: 57.3 %2016: 59.3 %2017: 61.2 %2018: 63.2 %2019: 65.3 %2020: 67.4 %2021: 69.5 %2022: 71.7 %2023: 73.2 %2024: 73.8 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa stood at 73.8%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 33.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa peaked at 73.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 67th of 159 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by urban/rural (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 47.4%
2001 48.0% +1.3%
2002 48.6% +1.3%
2003 49.2% +1.3%
2004 49.8% +1.2%
2005 50.4% +1.2%
2006 51.0% +1.2%
2007 51.6% +1.1%
2008 52.2% +1.1%
2009 52.7% +1.1%
2010 53.3% +1.1%
2011 53.8% +1.0%
2012 54.4% +1.0%
2013 54.9% +1.0%
2014 55.4% +1.0%
2015 57.3% +3.4%
2016 59.3% +3.4%
2017 61.2% +3.3%
2018 63.2% +3.3%
2019 65.3% +3.2%
2020 67.4% +3.2%
2021 69.5% +3.2%
2022 71.7% +3.1%
2023 73.2% +2.1%
2024 73.8% +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 50.1% 47.4% 52.7% 10
2010s 57.8% 53.3% 65.3% 10
2020s 71.1% 67.4% 73.8% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 64 Croatia 74.7% compare
  2. 65 Uzbekistan 74.6% compare
  3. 66 Belarus 74.4% compare
  4. 68 Jamaica 73.6% compare
  5. 69 State of Palestine 73.5% compare
  6. 70 Lao People's Democratic Republic 71.4% compare
  7. 70 Lao People's Democratic Republic 71.4% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More environment data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa?
Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa was 73.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 73.8% in 2024.
What is the lowest proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by?
South Africa ranks 67th out of 159 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by urban/rural (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-using-safely-managed-sanitation-services-by-urban-rural-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by urban/rural (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
194 places, 4,764 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed