North Korea vs South Africa: People using safely managed drinking water services (% of population)
North Korea
66.6%
in 2023
South Africa
68.0%
in 2024
North Korea rank
93rd
South Africa rank
91st
People using safely managed drinking water services (% of population) over time
- North Korea
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 68.0% against 66.6% in North Korea, a difference of 1.4%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 24 shared years of data; in 2000 it was North Korea ahead.
North Korea ranks 93rd and South Africa ranks 91st of 151 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, North Korea averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.7% | 66.1% | 2.6% | North Korea |
| 2010s | 67.1% | 69.2% | 2.1% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 66.5% | 69.3% | 2.8% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher people using safely managed drinking water services, North Korea or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 68.0% against 66.6% in North Korea as of 2024.
- What is the difference in people using safely managed drinking water services between North Korea and South Africa?
- 1.4%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and South Africa?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2023.
- How do North Korea and South Africa rank globally for people using safely managed drinking water services?
- North Korea ranks 93rd and South Africa ranks 91st of 151 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as People using safely managed drinking water services (% of population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The percentage of people using drinking water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water.