People using at least basic sanitation services, urban in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation services, urban was 76.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services, urban 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 urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in South Africa is 76.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in South Africa peaked at 76.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 72.0%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 133rd out of 182 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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, urban in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 72.0% | — |
| 2001 | 72.2% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 72.4% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 72.6% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 72.7% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 72.9% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 73.1% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 73.3% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 73.5% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 73.7% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 73.9% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 74.1% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 74.3% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 74.5% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 74.7% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 74.8% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 75.0% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 75.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 75.4% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 75.6% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 75.8% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 76.0% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 76.2% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 76.4% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 76.6% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 72.8% | 72.0% | 73.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.7% | 73.9% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.2% | 75.8% | 76.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 130 Djibouti 79.3% compare
- 131 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 78.9% compare
- 132 Botswana 77.3% compare
- 134 Solomon Islands 74.8% compare
- 135 Afghanistan 73.0% compare
- 136 Naoero 71.3% compare
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 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.0424 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate 2.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per capita 0.0426 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9299 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban in South Africa?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, urban in South Africa was 76.6% 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, urban recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 76.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, urban recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, urban?
- South Africa ranks 133rd out of 182 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services, urban rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. 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, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic sanitation services, urban (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.