Population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa
South Africa: Population using improved sanitation facilities was 59.02 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
59.02 million
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
22nd
of 232 countries
All-time high
59.02 million
in 2024
All-time low
35.40 million
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa is 59.02 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa peaked at 59.02 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35.40 million, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 232 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.40 million | — |
| 2001 | 36.09 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 36.83 million | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 37.59 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 38.37 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 39.15 million | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 39.95 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 40.76 million | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 41.63 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 42.51 million | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 43.41 million | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 44.34 million | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 45.38 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 46.52 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 47.69 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 49.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 49.90 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 50.61 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 51.86 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 53.11 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 54.36 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 55.59 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 56.76 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 57.91 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 59.02 million | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 59.02 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.75 million, 8.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 59.02 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.64 million, 7.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.83 million | 35.40 million | 42.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.19 million | 43.41 million | 53.11 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.73 million | 54.36 million | 59.02 million | 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 population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa?
- Population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa was 59.02 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 59.02 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.40 million in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for population using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population using improved sanitation facilities. 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).