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 100.0% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
100.0%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
15th
of 97 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 2017
All-time low
86.3%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

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

0204060801002000200820172000: 86.32001: 86.32002: 87.22003: 88.12004: 892005: 89.92006: 90.82007: 91.72008: 92.62009: 93.52010: 94.42011: 95.32012: 96.32013: 97.22014: 98.12015: 992016: 99.92017: 100

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 100.0% for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa peaked at 100.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 86.3%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 15th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population): Q3 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 86.3%
2001 86.3% +0.0%
2002 87.2% +1.1%
2003 88.1% +1.0%
2004 89.0% +1.0%
2005 89.9% +1.0%
2006 90.8% +1.0%
2007 91.7% +1.0%
2008 92.6% +1.0%
2009 93.5% +1.0%
2010 94.4% +1.0%
2011 95.3% +1.0%
2012 96.3% +1.0%
2013 97.2% +0.9%
2014 98.1% +0.9%
2015 99.0% +0.9%
2016 99.9% +0.9%
2017 100.0% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 89.5% 86.3% 93.5% 10
2010s 97.5% 94.4% 100.0% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 12 Paraguay 100.0% compare
  2. 13 Tunisia 100.0% compare
  3. 14 Georgia 100.0% compare
  4. 16 Belarus 99.9% compare
  5. 17 Mexico 99.9% compare
  6. 18 Uruguay 99.9% 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, urban (% of) in South Africa?
People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa was 100.0% 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 100.0% 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 86.3% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of)?
South Africa ranks 15th 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 9.0%. 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): Q3. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-using-at-least-basic-drinking-water-services-urban-percent-of-urban-population-q3/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population): Q3
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