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

South Africa
52.6%
in 2020
Zimbabwe
55.7%
in 2024
South Africa rank
75th
Zimbabwe rank
73rd

People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water over time

  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe
0204060200920162024

How they compare

Zimbabwe currently reports 55.7% against 52.6% in South Africa, a difference of 3.1%.

That makes Zimbabwe's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

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

South Africa ranks 75th and Zimbabwe ranks 73rd of 113 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Zimbabwe Difference Ahead
2010s 52.6% 55.7% 3.1% Zimbabwe
2020s 52.6% 55.7% 3.1% Zimbabwe

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?
Zimbabwe, at 55.7% against 52.6% in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water between South Africa and Zimbabwe?
3.1%, with Zimbabwe 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 75th and Zimbabwe ranks 73rd of 113 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, urban (% of urban 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 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/people-with-basic-handwashing-facilities-including-soap-and-water-urban-percent-of-urban/south-africa/zimbabwe/

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About this data

Indicator
People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water, urban (% of urban population)
Unit
% of urban 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
144 places, 2,061 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.