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 63.0% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
63.0%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
48th
of 97 countries
All-time high
63.0%
in 2017
All-time low
61.8%
in 2000
Years of data
18
2000–2017

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

02040602000200820172000: 61.82001: 61.82002: 61.92003: 622004: 62.12005: 62.12006: 62.22007: 62.32008: 62.42009: 62.42010: 62.52011: 62.62012: 62.72013: 62.72014: 62.82015: 62.92016: 62.92017: 63

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 63.0% for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in South Africa peaked at 63.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 61.8%, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 48th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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): Q4 in South Africa, 2000 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2000 61.8%
2001 61.8% +0.0%
2002 61.9% +0.1%
2003 62.0% +0.1%
2004 62.1% +0.1%
2005 62.1% +0.1%
2006 62.2% +0.1%
2007 62.3% +0.1%
2008 62.4% +0.1%
2009 62.4% +0.1%
2010 62.5% +0.1%
2011 62.6% +0.1%
2012 62.7% +0.1%
2013 62.7% +0.1%
2014 62.8% +0.1%
2015 62.9% +0.1%
2016 62.9% +0.1%
2017 63.0% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 62.1% 61.8% 62.4% 10
2010s 62.8% 62.5% 63.0% 8

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 45 Eswatini 72.2% compare
  2. 46 Republic of Moldova 70.0% compare
  3. 47 Guatemala 63.8% compare
  4. 49 Lesotho 61.9% compare
  5. 50 Cambodia 60.0% compare
  6. 51 Peru 59.8% 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 63.0% 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 sanitation services, rural (% of rural) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 63.0% 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 61.8% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural)?
South Africa ranks 48th 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 1.2%. 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, rural (% of rural population): Q4. 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-q4/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural population): Q4
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