1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa

South Africa: 1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water was 94.49 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
94.49
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
121st
of 200 countries
All-time high
94.49
in 2022
All-time low
84.58
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa, 2000–2022

0204060801002000201120222000: 84.62001: 85.12002: 85.62003: 86.22004: 86.72005: 87.22006: 87.72007: 88.22008: 88.72009: 89.12010: 89.62011: 90.12012: 90.52013: 90.92014: 91.42015: 91.82016: 92.22017: 92.62018: 932019: 93.42020: 93.82021: 94.12022: 94.5

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 94.49 for 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa peaked at 94.49 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 84.58, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 121st of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for 1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water services (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 84.58
2001 85.1 +0.6%
2002 85.63 +0.6%
2003 86.16 +0.6%
2004 86.68 +0.6%
2005 87.19 +0.6%
2006 87.69 +0.6%
2007 88.19 +0.6%
2008 88.67 +0.5%
2009 89.14 +0.5%
2010 89.61 +0.5%
2011 90.06 +0.5%
2012 90.51 +0.5%
2013 90.95 +0.5%
2014 91.38 +0.5%
2015 91.8 +0.5%
2016 92.21 +0.4%
2017 92.61 +0.4%
2018 93 +0.4%
2019 93.39 +0.4%
2020 93.76 +0.4%
2021 94.13 +0.4%
2022 94.49 +0.4%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 94.49 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.96, 97% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 94.49 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 68.92, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 86.9 84.58 89.14 10
2010s 91.55 89.61 93.39 10
2020s 94.13 93.76 94.49 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 118 Cuba 94.65 compare
  2. 119 Panama 94.65 compare
  3. 120 Guatemala 94.62 compare
  4. 122 Bolivia 94.11 compare
  5. 123 Indonesia 94.11 compare
  6. 124 Syria 94.08 compare

See the full ranking of 200 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa?
1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa was 94.49 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 94.49 in 2022.
What is the lowest 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 84.58 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water?
South Africa ranks 121st out of 200 countries with data for 2022.
Is 1.4.1.a proportion of the population using basic drinking water rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of 1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/1-4-1-a-proportion-of-the-population-using-basic-drinking-water-services-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
1.4.1.a Proportion of the population using basic drinking water services (%)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
200 places, 4,456 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed