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
People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 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): 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
| 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.1%, 7% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People practicing open defecation (% of population): Q4 in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
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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