People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa

South Africa: People practicing open defecation of population was 0.2768 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.2768
Change on year
down 18.0%
World rank
96th
of 225 countries
All-time high
11.44
in 2000
All-time low
0.2768
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa, 2000–2024

02.557.51012.52000201220242000: 11.42001: 10.82002: 10.22003: 9.62004: 9.12005: 8.52006: 7.92007: 7.42008: 6.82009: 6.32010: 5.82011: 5.32012: 4.82013: 4.32014: 3.82015: 3.32016: 2.92017: 2.42018: 22019: 1.62020: 1.12021: 0.742022: 0.3972023: 0.3372024: 0.277

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 0.2768 for people practicing open defecation of population in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is down 18.0% on the previous year and down 92.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people practicing open defecation of population in South Africa peaked at 11.44 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.2768, in 2024.

South Africa ranks 96th of 225 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 11.44
2001 10.84 -5.3%
2002 10.23 -5.6%
2003 9.64 -5.8%
2004 9.05 -6.1%
2005 8.48 -6.3%
2006 7.92 -6.6%
2007 7.37 -7.0%
2008 6.83 -7.3%
2009 6.3 -7.8%
2010 5.78 -8.3%
2011 5.27 -8.8%
2012 4.77 -9.5%
2013 4.28 -10.2%
2014 3.8 -11.2%
2015 3.34 -12.3%
2016 2.88 -13.7%
2017 2.43 -15.5%
2018 1.99 -18.0%
2019 1.57 -21.4%
2020 1.15 -26.7%
2021 0.7401 -35.5%
2022 0.3972 -46.3%
2023 0.3375 -15.0%
2024 0.2768 -18.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.81 6.3 11.44 10
2010s 3.61 1.57 5.78 10
2020s 0.58 0.2768 1.15 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 93 Eswatini 0.3592 compare
  2. 94 Malaysia 0.3476 compare
  3. 95 Paraguay 0.3418 compare
  4. 97 Curaçao 0.2727 compare
  5. 98 Mauritius 0.2521 compare
  6. 99 Tunisia 0.2489 compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is people practicing open defecation of population in South Africa?
People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa was 0.2768 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest people practicing open defecation of population recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 11.44 in 2000.
What is the lowest people practicing open defecation of population recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2768 in 2024.
How does South Africa rank for people practicing open defecation of population?
South Africa ranks 96th out of 225 countries with data for 2024.
Is people practicing open defecation of population rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 92.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of People practicing open defecation of population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/people-practicing-open-defecation-of-population/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People practicing open defecation of population
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,488 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed