Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 2.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources 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 %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.4% for share of population not using improved drinking water sources in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 11.9% on the previous year and down 60.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Africa peaked at 12.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 91st out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.4% | — |
| 2001 | 11.9% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 11.4% | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 10.4% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 9.9% | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 8.9% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 5.5% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | -7.8% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | -8.2% |
| 2020 | 3.7% | -8.7% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | -9.3% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -10.9% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -11.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.2%, 1.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.8%, 16% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.2% | 8.0% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 4.0% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.4% | 3.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.2953 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Africa?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Africa was 2.4% 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 share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- South Africa ranks 91st out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.2%. 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 Share of population not using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion 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.