Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services was 73.78 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
73.78
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
62nd
of 149 countries
All-time high
73.78
in 2024
All-time low
47.39
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 47.42001: 482002: 48.62003: 49.22004: 49.82005: 50.42006: 512007: 51.62008: 52.22009: 52.72010: 53.32011: 53.82012: 54.42013: 54.92014: 55.42015: 57.32016: 59.32017: 61.22018: 63.22019: 65.32020: 67.42021: 69.52022: 71.72023: 73.22024: 73.8

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa is 73.78, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 33.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa peaked at 73.78 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 47.39, in 2000.

That places South Africa 62nd out of 149 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (Sanitation) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 47.39
2001 47.99 +1.3%
2002 48.61 +1.3%
2003 49.22 +1.3%
2004 49.82 +1.2%
2005 50.41 +1.2%
2006 51 +1.2%
2007 51.58 +1.1%
2008 52.16 +1.1%
2009 52.72 +1.1%
2010 53.28 +1.1%
2011 53.84 +1.0%
2012 54.38 +1.0%
2013 54.91 +1.0%
2014 55.44 +1.0%
2015 57.33 +3.4%
2016 59.25 +3.4%
2017 61.22 +3.3%
2018 63.23 +3.3%
2019 65.28 +3.2%
2020 67.38 +3.2%
2021 69.52 +3.2%
2022 71.7 +3.1%
2023 73.17 +2.1%
2024 73.78 +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 50.09 47.39 52.72 10
2010s 57.82 53.28 65.28 10
2020s 71.11 67.38 73.78 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 59 Croatia 74.73 compare
  2. 60 Uzbekistan 74.6 compare
  3. 61 Belarus 74.44 compare
  4. 63 Jamaica 73.61 compare
  5. 64 Palestine, State of 73.51 compare
  6. 65 Lao People's Democratic Republic 71.38 compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa?
Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa was 73.78 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 73.78 in 2024.
What is the lowest proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 47.39 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services?
South Africa ranks 62nd out of 149 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.1%. 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 Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-using-safely-managed-sanitation-services-sanitation/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (Sanitation)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
210 places, 5,159 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed