6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa

South Africa: 6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation was 71.71 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
71.71
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
57th
of 132 countries
All-time high
71.71
in 2022
All-time low
54.61
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa, 2000–2022

0204060802000201120222000: 54.62001: 55.42002: 56.22003: 57.12004: 57.92005: 58.72006: 59.52007: 60.32008: 61.12009: 61.92010: 62.72011: 63.52012: 64.32013: 652014: 65.82015: 66.62016: 67.32017: 68.12018: 68.82019: 69.52020: 70.32021: 712022: 71.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 71.71 for 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 11.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa peaked at 71.71 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 54.61, in 2000.

That places South Africa 57th out of 132 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for 6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 54.61
2001 55.42 +1.5%
2002 56.24 +1.5%
2003 57.06 +1.5%
2004 57.88 +1.4%
2005 58.7 +1.4%
2006 59.51 +1.4%
2007 60.31 +1.4%
2008 61.11 +1.3%
2009 61.91 +1.3%
2010 62.7 +1.3%
2011 63.48 +1.3%
2012 64.26 +1.2%
2013 65.03 +1.2%
2014 65.8 +1.2%
2015 66.56 +1.2%
2016 67.31 +1.1%
2017 68.06 +1.1%
2018 68.8 +1.1%
2019 69.54 +1.1%
2020 70.27 +1.0%
2021 70.99 +1.0%
2022 71.71 +1.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 71.71 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.18, 1.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 71.71 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.88, 4.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 58.28 54.61 61.91 10
2010s 66.15 62.7 69.54 10
2020s 70.99 70.27 71.71 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 54 Uzbekistan 74.54 compare
  2. 55 Bulgaria 73.46 compare
  3. 56 Ukraine 71.93 compare
  4. 58 Palestine 70.11 compare
  5. 59 Azerbaijan 69.04 compare
  6. 60 China 67.22 compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa?
6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa was 71.71 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 71.71 in 2022.
What is the lowest 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 54.61 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation?
South Africa ranks 57th out of 132 countries with data for 2022.
Is 6.2.1.a proportion of population using safely managed sanitation rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.6%. 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 6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/6-2-1-a-proportion-of-population-using-safely-managed-sanitation-services-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
6.2.1.a Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (%)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
132 places, 2,993 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed