People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation services, rural was 79.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural 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 rural population.
Analysis
In 2024, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in South Africa stood at 79.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in South Africa peaked at 79.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 45.3%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 102nd of 171 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.3% | — |
| 2001 | 46.6% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 47.9% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 49.2% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 50.5% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 51.8% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 53.2% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 54.5% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 55.9% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 57.2% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 58.6% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 60.0% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 61.4% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 62.8% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 64.3% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 65.7% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 67.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 68.6% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 70.1% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 71.6% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 73.1% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 74.6% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 76.2% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 77.7% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 79.3% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.2% | 45.3% | 57.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.0% | 58.6% | 71.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.2% | 73.1% | 79.3% | 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 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in South Africa?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in South Africa was 79.3% 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 sanitation services, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 79.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.3% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural?
- South Africa ranks 102nd out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. 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, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people using at least basic sanitation services, that is, improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households. This indicator encompasses both people using basic sanitation services as well as those using safely managed sanitation services. Improved sanitation facilities include flush/pour flush to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; ventilated improved pit latrines, composting toilets or pit latrines with slabs.