People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (%) in South Africa
South Africa: People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (%) was 44.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat
People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in South Africa, 2012–2020
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 with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in South Africa is 44.4%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in South Africa peaked at 44.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 43.3%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 79th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 43.3% | — |
| 2013 | 43.5% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 43.6% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 43.7% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 43.9% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 44.0% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 44.1% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 44.2% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 44.4% | +0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 44.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 89.1%, 50% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 44.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.2%, 2.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 43.8% | 43.3% | 44.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 44.4% | 44.4% | 44.4% | 1 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in South Africa?
- People with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water in South Africa was 44.4% in 2020, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.3% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water?
- South Africa ranks 79th out of 120 countries with data for 2020.
- Is people with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 with basic handwashing facilities including soap and water (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people living in households that have a handwashing facility with soap and water available on the premises. Handwashing facilities may be fixed or mobile and include a sink with tap water, buckets with taps, tippy-taps, and jugs or basins designated for handwashing. Soap includes bar soap, liquid soap, powder detergent, and soapy water but does not include ash, soil, sand or other handwashing agents.