People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q3 in South Africa

South Africa: People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q3 was 2.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
2.6%
Change on year
down 15.0%
World rank
54th
of 97 countries
All-time high
9.8%
in 2000
All-time low
2.6%
in 2017
Years of data
18
2000–2017

People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q3 in South Africa, 2000–2017

2468102000200820172000: 9.82001: 9.82002: 9.32003: 8.92004: 8.42005: 82006: 7.52007: 7.12008: 6.62009: 6.22010: 5.72011: 5.32012: 4.82013: 4.42014: 3.92015: 3.52016: 32017: 2.6

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

The most recent figure for people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3 in South Africa is 2.6%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

That represents a change of down 15.0% on the previous year and down 63.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3 in South Africa peaked at 9.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2017.

That places South Africa 54th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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): Q3 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q3 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 9.8%
2001 9.8% +0.0%
2002 9.3% -4.6%
2003 8.9% -4.8%
2004 8.4% -5.1%
2005 8.0% -5.4%
2006 7.5% -5.7%
2007 7.1% -6.0%
2008 6.6% -6.4%
2009 6.2% -6.8%
2010 5.7% -7.3%
2011 5.3% -7.9%
2012 4.8% -8.6%
2013 4.4% -9.4%
2014 3.9% -10.3%
2015 3.5% -11.5%
2016 3.0% -13.0%
2017 2.6% -15.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.2% 6.2% 9.8% 10
2010s 4.1% 2.6% 5.7% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 51 Mali 5.1% compare
  2. 52 Gabon 4.9% compare
  3. 53 Dominican Republic 4.7% compare
  4. 55 El Salvador 2.5% compare
  5. 56 Philippines 2.4% compare
  6. 57 Uganda 2.1% 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, rural (% of rural population): q3 in South Africa?
People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3 in South Africa was 2.6% in 2017, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 9.8% in 2000.
What is the lowest people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3?
South Africa ranks 54th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): q3 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 63.8%. 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): Q3. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q3 in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-practicing-open-defecation-rural-percent-of-rural-population-q3/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People practicing open defecation, rural (% of rural population): Q3
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
97 places, 1,663 data points, 2000–2017
Last refreshed