People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) was 93.6% in 2017. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa, 2000–2017
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Measured in lowest.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa is 93.6%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa peaked at 93.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 87.6%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 44th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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, urban (% of) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | lowest | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 87.6% | — |
| 2001 | 87.6% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 88.0% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 88.4% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 88.8% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 89.1% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 89.5% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 89.9% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 90.3% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 90.7% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 91.0% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 91.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 91.8% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 92.2% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 92.5% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 92.9% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 93.3% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 93.6% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 89.0% | 87.6% | 90.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.3% | 91.0% | 93.6% | 8 |
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa?
- People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa was 93.6% 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, urban (% of) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 93.6% in 2017.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.6% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of)?
- South Africa ranks 44th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. 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, urban (% of urban population): Q1 (lowest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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