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 96.8% 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).
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa is 96.8%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa peaked at 96.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 85.2%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 48th 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 85.2% | — |
| 2001 | 85.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 85.9% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 86.6% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 87.4% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 88.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 88.8% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 89.5% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 90.3% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 91.0% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 91.7% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 92.5% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 93.2% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 93.9% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 94.7% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 95.4% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 96.1% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 96.8% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 87.8% | 85.2% | 91.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 94.3% | 91.7% | 96.8% | 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)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.0424 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate 2.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per capita 0.0426 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9299 % change on previous year (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 96.8% 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 96.8% 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 85.2% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of)?
- South Africa ranks 48th 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 8.1%. 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): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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