Ghana vs South Africa: People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water

Ghana
45.5%
in 2024
South Africa
44.4%
in 2020
Ghana rank
77th
South Africa rank
79th

People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water over time

  • Ghana
  • South Africa
01020304050201120172024

How they compare

Ghana currently reports 45.5% against 44.4% in South Africa, a difference of 1.1%.

Across all 9 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Ghana ranks 77th and South Africa ranks 79th of 120 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ghana South Africa Difference Ahead
2010s 40.7% 43.8% 3.1% South Africa
2020s 42.8% 44.4% 1.5% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water, Ghana or South Africa?
Ghana, at 45.5% against 44.4% in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water between Ghana and South Africa?
1.1%, with Ghana ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ghana and South Africa?
9 years are reported by both, from 2012 to 2020.
How do Ghana and South Africa rank globally for people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water?
Ghana ranks 77th and South Africa ranks 79th of 120 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 with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (% of population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ghana vs South Africa: People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/people-with-basic-handwashing-facilities-including-soap-and-water-percent-of-population/ghana/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 2,174 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of people living in households that have a handwashing facility with soap and water available on the premises. Handwashing facilities may be fixed or mobile and include a sink with tap water, buckets with taps, tippy-taps, and jugs or basins designated for handwashing. Soap includes bar soap, liquid soap, powder detergent, and soapy water but does not include ash, soil, sand or other handwashing agents.