People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2 in South Africa

South Africa: People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2 was 4.2% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
4.2%
Change on year
down 23.6%
World rank
57th
of 97 countries
All-time high
24.8%
in 2000
All-time low
4.2%
in 2017
Years of data
18
2000–2017

People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2 in South Africa, 2000–2017

5101520252000200820172000: 24.82001: 24.82002: 23.52003: 22.22004: 20.92005: 19.62006: 18.32007: 172008: 15.72009: 14.52010: 13.22011: 11.92012: 10.62013: 9.32014: 82015: 6.72016: 5.42017: 4.2

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

In 2017, people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2 in South Africa stood at 4.2%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

That represents a change of down 23.6% on the previous year and down 75.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2 in South Africa peaked at 24.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2017.

South Africa ranks 57th 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, rural (% of rural population): Q2 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 24.8%
2001 24.8% +0.0%
2002 23.5% -5.2%
2003 22.2% -5.5%
2004 20.9% -5.8%
2005 19.6% -6.2%
2006 18.3% -6.6%
2007 17.0% -7.0%
2008 15.7% -7.6%
2009 14.5% -8.2%
2010 13.2% -8.9%
2011 11.9% -9.8%
2012 10.6% -10.8%
2013 9.3% -12.1%
2014 8.0% -13.8%
2015 6.7% -16.0%
2016 5.4% -19.1%
2017 4.2% -23.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.1% 14.5% 24.8% 10
2010s 8.7% 4.2% 13.2% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 54 Dominican Republic 6.5% compare
  2. 55 Gabon 5.8% compare
  3. 56 Panama 4.3% compare
  4. 58 Mexico 2.9% compare
  5. 59 Viet Nam 2.8% compare
  6. 60 Uganda 2.6% 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, rural (% of rural population): q2 in South Africa?
People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2 in South Africa was 4.2% in 2017, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 24.8% in 2000.
What is the lowest people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2?
South Africa ranks 57th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q2 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 75.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2 in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-practicing-open-defecation-rural-percent-of-rural-population-q2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q2
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
97 places, 1,663 data points, 2000–2017
Last refreshed