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

South Africa
44.4%
in 2020
Zimbabwe
42.5%
in 2024
South Africa rank
79th
Zimbabwe rank
80th

People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water over time

  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe
010203040200920162024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 44.4% against 42.5% in Zimbabwe, a difference of 1.9%.

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

South Africa ranks 79th and Zimbabwe ranks 80th of 120 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Zimbabwe Difference Ahead
2010s 43.8% 42.5% 1.3% South Africa
2020s 44.4% 42.4% 1.9% 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, South Africa or Zimbabwe?
South Africa, at 44.4% against 42.5% in Zimbabwe as of 2020.
What is the difference in people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water between South Africa and Zimbabwe?
1.9%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zimbabwe?
9 years are reported by both, from 2012 to 2020.
How do South Africa and Zimbabwe rank globally for people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water?
South Africa ranks 79th and Zimbabwe ranks 80th 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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South Africa vs Zimbabwe: 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 13 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/people-with-basic-handwashing-facilities-including-soap-and-water-percent-of-population/south-africa/zimbabwe/

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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.