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 89.7% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
89.7%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
54th
of 97 countries
All-time high
89.7%
in 2017
All-time low
88.5%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

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

0204060802000200820172000: 88.5 highest2001: 88.5 highest2002: 88.6 highest2003: 88.7 highest2004: 88.8 highest2005: 88.8 highest2006: 88.9 highest2007: 89 highest2008: 89 highest2009: 89.1 highest2010: 89.2 highest2011: 89.3 highest2012: 89.3 highest2013: 89.4 highest2014: 89.5 highest2015: 89.5 highest2016: 89.6 highest2017: 89.7 highest

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

Analysis

In 2017, people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa stood at 89.7%. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of) in South Africa peaked at 89.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 88.5%, in 2000.

That places South Africa 54th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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): Q5 (highest) in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year highest Change
2000 88.5%
2001 88.5% +0.0%
2002 88.6% +0.1%
2003 88.7% +0.1%
2004 88.8% +0.1%
2005 88.8% +0.1%
2006 88.9% +0.1%
2007 89.0% +0.1%
2008 89.0% +0.1%
2009 89.1% +0.1%
2010 89.2% +0.1%
2011 89.3% +0.1%
2012 89.3% +0.1%
2013 89.4% +0.1%
2014 89.5% +0.1%
2015 89.5% +0.1%
2016 89.6% +0.1%
2017 89.7% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 88.8% 88.5% 89.1% 10
2010s 89.4% 89.2% 89.7% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 51 Republic of Moldova 90.3% compare
  2. 52 Eswatini 89.9% compare
  3. 53 Yemen 89.8% compare
  4. 55 Comoros 88.4% compare
  5. 56 Ghana 87.2% compare
  6. 57 Tajikistan 86.3% 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 89.7% 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 89.7% 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 88.5% in 2000.
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 up 0.8%. 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): Q5 (highest). 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-q5/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of rural population): Q5 (highest)
Unit
highest
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