People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in South Africa
South Africa: People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 was 2.4% in 2017. ▼ Falling
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in South Africa, 2000–2017
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).
Analysis
The most recent figure for people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in South Africa is 2.4%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in South Africa peaked at 3.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 53rd of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.4% | — |
| 2001 | 3.4% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in South Africa?
- People practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 in South Africa was 2.4% in 2017, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).
- What is the highest people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q2 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org), published as part of People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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