People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in South Africa
South Africa: People using safely managed drinking water services, urban was 75.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
People using safely managed drinking water 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
South Africa recorded 75.6% for people using safely managed drinking water services, urban in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using safely managed drinking water services, urban in South Africa peaked at 90.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 75.6%, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 52nd of 104 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 90.1% | — |
| 2001 | 90.1% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 90.1% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 90.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 90.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 90.3% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 89.8% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 89.0% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 88.2% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 87.4% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 86.7% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 85.9% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 85.1% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 84.3% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 83.5% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 82.7% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 81.9% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 81.1% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 80.4% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 79.6% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 78.8% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 78.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 77.2% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 76.4% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 75.6% | -1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 75.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 75.7%, 100% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 75.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.2%, 1.7× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 89.6% | 87.4% | 90.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.1% | 79.6% | 86.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.2% | 75.6% | 78.8% | 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, urban in South Africa?
- People using safely managed drinking water services, urban in South Africa was 75.6% 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 safely managed drinking water services, urban recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90.3% in 2005.
- What is the lowest people using safely managed drinking water services, urban recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.6% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for people using safely managed drinking water services, urban?
- South Africa ranks 52nd out of 104 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using safely managed drinking water services, urban rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. 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, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using safely managed drinking water 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 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.