Proportion of population using basic sanitation services in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of population using basic sanitation services was 3.6 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of population using basic sanitation services in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population using basic sanitation services in South Africa is 3.6, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 76.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population using basic sanitation services in South Africa peaked at 15.5 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.6, in 2024.
That places South Africa 118th out of 149 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.89 | 13.11 | 14.66 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.43 | 9 | 15.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.05 | 3.6 | 7.54 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.23 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.8825 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -0.4964 % change on previous year (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum, gaps filled 71,171 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population using basic sanitation services in South Africa?
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services in South Africa was 3.6 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest proportion of population using basic sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5 in 2014.
- What is the lowest proportion of population using basic sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of population using basic sanitation services?
- South Africa ranks 118th out of 149 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population using basic sanitation services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Proportion of population using basic sanitation services (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).