People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2 in South Africa

South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2 was 55.6% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
55.6%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
49th
of 97 countries
All-time high
55.6%
in 2017
All-time low
55.2%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2 in South Africa, 2000–2017

02040602000200820172000: 55.22001: 55.22002: 55.22003: 55.22004: 55.22005: 55.32006: 55.32007: 55.32008: 55.42009: 55.42010: 55.42011: 55.52012: 55.52013: 55.52014: 55.52015: 55.62016: 55.62017: 55.6

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 55.6% for people using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): q2 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 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): q2 in South Africa peaked at 55.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 55.2%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 49th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 55.2%
2001 55.2% +0.0%
2002 55.2% +0.1%
2003 55.2% +0.1%
2004 55.2% +0.1%
2005 55.3% +0.1%
2006 55.3% +0.1%
2007 55.3% +0.1%
2008 55.4% +0.1%
2009 55.4% +0.1%
2010 55.4% +0.1%
2011 55.5% +0.1%
2012 55.5% +0.1%
2013 55.5% +0.1%
2014 55.5% +0.1%
2015 55.6% +0.1%
2016 55.6% +0.1%
2017 55.6% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 55.3% 55.2% 55.4% 10
2010s 55.5% 55.4% 55.6% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 46 Nicaragua 58.9% compare
  2. 47 Nepal 58.7% compare
  3. 48 Eswatini 56.2% compare
  4. 50 Guatemala 54.7% compare
  5. 51 Lao People's Democratic Republic 51.6% compare
  6. 52 Pakistan 45.1% 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 sanitation services (% of population): q2 in South Africa?
People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): q2 in South Africa was 55.6% 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 sanitation services (% of population): q2 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 55.6% in 2017.
What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): q2 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 55.2% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): q2?
South Africa ranks 49th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): q2 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. 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 (washdata.org), published as part of People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2 in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-using-at-least-basic-sanitation-services-percent-of-population-q2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population): Q2
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, 1,672 data points, 2000–2017
Last refreshed