People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa

South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) was 64.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
64.8%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
42nd
of 97 countries
All-time high
64.8%
in 2017
All-time low
51.6%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

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

02040602000200820172000: 51.62001: 51.62002: 52.42003: 53.32004: 54.12005: 54.92006: 55.72007: 56.62008: 57.42009: 58.22010: 592011: 59.92012: 60.72013: 61.52014: 62.32015: 63.22016: 642017: 64.8

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 sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa is 64.8%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa peaked at 64.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 51.6%, in 2000.

That places South Africa 42nd 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 sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural population): Q3 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 51.6%
2001 51.6% +0.0%
2002 52.4% +1.6%
2003 53.3% +1.6%
2004 54.1% +1.5%
2005 54.9% +1.5%
2006 55.7% +1.5%
2007 56.6% +1.5%
2008 57.4% +1.5%
2009 58.2% +1.4%
2010 59.0% +1.4%
2011 59.9% +1.4%
2012 60.7% +1.4%
2013 61.5% +1.4%
2014 62.3% +1.3%
2015 63.2% +1.3%
2016 64.0% +1.3%
2017 64.8% +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 54.6% 51.6% 58.2% 10
2010s 61.9% 59.0% 64.8% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 39 Indonesia 69.7% compare
  2. 40 Suriname 68.3% compare
  3. 41 Georgia 68.0% compare
  4. 43 Honduras 64.6% compare
  5. 44 Republic of Moldova 64.4% compare
  6. 45 Pakistan 62.4% 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, rural (% of rural) in South Africa?
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa was 64.8% 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 sanitation services, rural (% of rural) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 64.8% in 2017.
What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 51.6% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural)?
South Africa ranks 42nd out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. 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 sanitation services, rural (% of rural population): Q3. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-using-at-least-basic-sanitation-services-rural-percent-of-rural-population-q3/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural 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