People in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan
South Sudan: People in rural areas not using an improved water source was 2.35 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan, 2011–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan is 2.35 million people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and down 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan peaked at 3.27 million people in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.18 million people, in 2022.
That places South Sudan 28th out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3.23 million people | — |
| 2012 | 3.26 million people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 3.27 million people | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 3.17 million people | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 3.02 million people | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 2.83 million people | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 2.57 million people | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 2.43 million people | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 2.39 million people | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 2.34 million people | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 2.27 million people | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 2.18 million people | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 2.27 million people | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 2.35 million people | +3.5% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 2.35 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.34 million people, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 2.35 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.93 million people, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.91 million people | 2.39 million people | 3.27 million people | 9 |
| 2020s | 2.28 million people | 2.18 million people | 2.35 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More environment data for South Sudan
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.71 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -18.33 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.283 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Annual growth US$ -9.78 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value Standard 468,790 million SLC (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Annual growth US$ 70.33 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Annual growth -9.78 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Annual growth 10.41 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan?
- People in rural areas not using an improved water source in South Sudan was 2.35 million 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 people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.27 million people in 2013.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using an improved water source recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.18 million people in 2022.
- How does South Sudan rank for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- South Sudan ranks 28th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using an improved water source rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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 People in rural areas not using an improved water source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people not using improved drinking water sources. These people might use surface water sources or unprotected springs or wells, as no safe and reliable improved drinking water source is available to them.