People using at least basic drinking water services, urban in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic drinking water services, urban was 97.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
People using at least basic drinking water services, urban 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 urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban in South Africa is 97.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic drinking water services, urban in South Africa peaked at 99.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 97.8%, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 101st of 184 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
People using at least basic drinking water services, urban in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 98.8% | — |
| 2001 | 98.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 98.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 98.8% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 99.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 99.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 99.0% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 99.1% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 99.1% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 99.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 98.7% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.6% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 98.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 98.3% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 98.2% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 98.1% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 97.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 97.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.9% | 98.8% | 99.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.9% | 98.5% | 99.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 98.1% | 97.8% | 98.3% | 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 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0422 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic drinking water services, urban in South Africa?
- People using at least basic drinking water services, urban in South Africa was 97.8% 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, urban recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic drinking water services, urban recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.8% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic drinking water services, urban?
- South Africa ranks 101st out of 184 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic drinking water services, urban rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. 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, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic drinking water services, urban (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.