People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) was 37.1% in 2017. ▼ Falling
People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa, 2000–2017
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (washdata.org). Measured in lowest.
Analysis
In 2017, people using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa stood at 37.1%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa peaked at 45.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 57th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | lowest | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.2% | — |
| 2001 | 45.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 44.7% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 44.2% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 43.6% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 43.1% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 42.6% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 42.1% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 41.6% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 41.1% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 40.1% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 39.6% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 39.1% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 38.6% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 38.1% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 37.6% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 37.1% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.3% | 41.1% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.9% | 37.1% | 40.6% | 8 |
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) in South Africa was 37.1% 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, urban (% of urban) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban)?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, urban (% of urban population): Q1 (lowest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).