Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Sudan
South Sudan: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 22.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources 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 %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Sudan stood at 22.4%. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Sudan peaked at 35.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 22.4%, in 2024.
South Sudan ranks 15th of 231 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 35.6% | — |
| 2012 | 34.4% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 33.2% | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 32.0% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 30.8% | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 29.6% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 28.4% | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 27.2% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 26.0% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 24.8% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 22.4% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 22.4% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 22.4% | -0.2% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 22.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.7%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 22.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.8%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30.8% | 26.0% | 35.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 23.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 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 share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Sudan?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in South Sudan was 22.4% 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.4% in 2024.
- How does South Sudan rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- South Sudan ranks 15th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.2%. 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 Share of population not using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.