People using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa
South Africa: People using safely managed sanitation services was 73.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using safely managed sanitation services 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 population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa is 73.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa peaked at 73.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 60th of 146 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 safely managed sanitation services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 47.4% | — |
| 2001 | 48.0% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 48.6% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 49.2% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 49.8% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 50.4% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 51.0% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 51.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 52.2% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 52.7% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 53.3% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 53.8% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 54.4% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 54.9% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 55.4% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 57.3% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 59.3% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 61.2% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 63.2% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 65.3% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 67.4% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 69.5% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 71.7% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 73.2% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 73.8% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.1% | 47.4% | 52.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.8% | 53.3% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.1% | 67.4% | 73.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 57 Croatia 74.7% compare
- 58 Uzbekistan 74.6% compare
- 59 Belarus 74.4% compare
- 61 Jamaica 73.6% compare
- 62 Palestine, State of 73.5% compare
- 63 Lao People's Democratic Republic 71.4% 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 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0422 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa?
- People using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa was 73.8% 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 sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 73.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using safely managed sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using safely managed sanitation services?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 146 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using safely managed sanitation services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.1%. 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 sanitation services (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households and where excreta are safely disposed of in situ or transported and treated offsite. 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.