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 87.7% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
87.7%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
45th
of 97 countries
All-time high
87.7%
in 2017
All-time low
80.2%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

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

0204060802000200820172000: 80.22001: 80.22002: 80.62003: 81.12004: 81.62005: 822006: 82.52007: 832008: 83.52009: 83.92010: 84.42011: 84.92012: 85.32013: 85.82014: 86.32015: 86.82016: 87.22017: 87.7

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 87.7%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa peaked at 87.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 80.2%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 45th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

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): Q4 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 80.2%
2001 80.2% +0.0%
2002 80.6% +0.6%
2003 81.1% +0.6%
2004 81.6% +0.6%
2005 82.0% +0.6%
2006 82.5% +0.6%
2007 83.0% +0.6%
2008 83.5% +0.6%
2009 83.9% +0.6%
2010 84.4% +0.6%
2011 84.9% +0.6%
2012 85.3% +0.6%
2013 85.8% +0.6%
2014 86.3% +0.5%
2015 86.8% +0.5%
2016 87.2% +0.5%
2017 87.7% +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 81.9% 80.2% 83.9% 10
2010s 86.0% 84.4% 87.7% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 42 Tunisia 91.5% compare
  2. 43 Honduras 91.4% compare
  3. 44 Indonesia 88.9% compare
  4. 46 Colombia 86.6% compare
  5. 47 Lao People's Democratic Republic 85.6% compare
  6. 48 Sudan 84.8% 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 87.7% 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 87.7% in 2017.
What is the lowest people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 80.2% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of)?
South Africa ranks 45th 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 up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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): Q4. 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-q4/south-africa/

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About this data

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