People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa
South Africa: People practicing open defecation of population was 0.2768 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa, 2000–2024
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 99th of 232 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
| 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2768 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.2644, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2768 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.15, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People practicing open defecation of population in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -46.3% | 0.7401 | 0.3972 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
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 99th out of 232 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).