People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa

South Africa: People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) was 68.7% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
68.7%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
54th
of 97 countries
All-time high
69.8%
in 2000
All-time low
68.7%
in 2017
Years of data
18
2000–2017

People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa, 2000–2017

02040602000200820172000: 69.82001: 69.82002: 69.72003: 69.62004: 69.62005: 69.52006: 69.42007: 69.42008: 69.32009: 69.22010: 69.22011: 69.12012: 692013: 692014: 68.92015: 68.82016: 68.82017: 68.7

Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).

Analysis

The most recent figure for people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa is 68.7%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa peaked at 69.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 68.7%, in 2017.

South Africa ranks 54th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of rural population): Q2 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 69.8%
2001 69.8% +0.0%
2002 69.7% -0.1%
2003 69.6% -0.1%
2004 69.6% -0.1%
2005 69.5% -0.1%
2006 69.4% -0.1%
2007 69.4% -0.1%
2008 69.3% -0.1%
2009 69.2% -0.1%
2010 69.2% -0.1%
2011 69.1% -0.1%
2012 69.0% -0.1%
2013 69.0% -0.1%
2014 68.9% -0.1%
2015 68.8% -0.1%
2016 68.8% -0.1%
2017 68.7% -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 69.5% 69.2% 69.8% 10
2010s 68.9% 68.7% 69.2% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 51 Colombia 71.9% compare
  2. 52 Lao People's Democratic Republic 70.1% compare
  3. 53 Gambia 68.9% compare
  4. 55 Cambodia 66.4% compare
  5. 56 Liberia 62.0% compare
  6. 57 Malawi 61.6% 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 using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa?
People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa was 68.7% in 2017, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org).
What is the highest people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 69.8% in 2000.
What is the lowest people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 68.7% in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of)?
South Africa ranks 54th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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 using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of rural population): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-using-at-least-basic-drinking-water-services-rural-percent-of-rural-population-q2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of rural population): Q2
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, 1,663 data points, 2000–2017
Last refreshed