People using at least basic drinking water services, rural in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic drinking water services, rural was 73.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic drinking water services, rural in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 73.0% for people using at least basic drinking water services, rural in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, rural in South Africa peaked at 80.6% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 132nd out of 174 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic drinking water services, rural in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.0% | — |
| 2001 | 69.9% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 70.7% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 71.5% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 72.3% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 73.2% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 74.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 74.8% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 75.6% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 76.5% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 77.3% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 78.1% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 78.9% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 79.8% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 80.6% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 80.0% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 79.3% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 78.6% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 77.9% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 77.2% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 76.4% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 75.6% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 74.7% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 73.9% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 73.0% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 72.8% | 69.0% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.8% | 77.2% | 80.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.7% | 73.0% | 76.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic drinking water services, rural in South Africa?
- People using at least basic drinking water services, rural in South Africa was 73.0% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest people using at least basic drinking water services, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 80.6% in 2014.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic drinking water services, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, rural?
- South Africa ranks 132nd out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic drinking water services, rural rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. 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, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic drinking water services, rural (% of rural population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people using at least basic water services. This indicator encompasses both people using basic water services as well as those using safely managed water services. Basic drinking water services is defined as drinking water from an improved source, provided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a round trip. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water.