People using safely managed drinking water services, rural in South Africa
South Africa: People using safely managed drinking water services, rural was 50.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using safely managed drinking water 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
The most recent figure for people using safely managed drinking water services, rural in South Africa is 50.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using safely managed drinking water services, rural in South Africa peaked at 51.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 35th out of 85 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 safely managed drinking water services, rural in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27.9% | — |
| 2001 | 28.2% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 29.2% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 30.3% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 31.4% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 32.5% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 33.7% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 36.0% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 37.2% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 38.3% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 39.6% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 40.8% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 42.0% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 43.3% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 44.6% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 45.9% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 47.2% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 48.5% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 49.9% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 51.3% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 51.9% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 51.6% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 51.2% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 50.8% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.1% | 27.9% | 37.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.0% | 38.3% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.4% | 50.8% | 51.9% | 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)
- 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 safely managed drinking water services, rural in South Africa?
- People using safely managed drinking water services, rural in South Africa was 50.8% 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 safely managed drinking water services, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest people using safely managed drinking water services, rural recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using safely managed drinking water services, rural?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using safely managed drinking water services, rural rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. 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 safely managed drinking water 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 drinking water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water.