People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 in South Africa

South Africa: People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 was 0.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
0.3%
Change on year
up 7.7%
World rank
43rd
of 97 countries
All-time high
0.3%
in 2017
All-time low
0.0%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 in South Africa, 2000–2017

00.10.20.32000200820172000: 02001: 02002: 02003: 02004: 0.022005: 0.0412006: 0.0612007: 0.0822008: 0.1022009: 0.1232010: 0.1432011: 0.1632012: 0.1842013: 0.2042014: 0.2252015: 0.2452016: 0.2662017: 0.286

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): q4 in South Africa is 0.3%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 7.7% on the previous year and up 250.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation (% of population): q4 in South Africa peaked at 0.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 43rd of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 0.0%
2001 0.0%
2002 0.0%
2003 0.0%
2004 0.0%
2005 0.0% +100.0%
2006 0.1% +50.0%
2007 0.1% +33.3%
2008 0.1% +25.0%
2009 0.1% +20.0%
2010 0.1% +16.7%
2011 0.2% +14.3%
2012 0.2% +12.5%
2013 0.2% +11.1%
2014 0.2% +10.0%
2015 0.2% +9.1%
2016 0.3% +8.3%
2017 0.3% +7.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 10
2010s 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 40 Burundi 0.5% compare
  2. 41 Guinea 0.4% compare
  3. 42 Comoros 0.4% compare
  4. 44 Senegal 0.2% compare
  5. 45 Philippines 0.2% compare
  6. 46 Somalia 0.1% compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q4 in South Africa?
People practicing open defecation (% of population): q4 in South Africa was 0.3% 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): q4 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2017.
What is the lowest people practicing open defecation (% of population): q4 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for people practicing open defecation (% of population): q4?
South Africa ranks 43rd out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people practicing open defecation (% of population): q4 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 250.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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): Q4. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-practicing-open-defecation-percent-of-population-q4/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
97 places, 1,672 data points, 2000–2017
Last refreshed