Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to was 3.4 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
3.4
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
175th
of 211 countries
All-time high
3.42
in 2020
All-time low
2.56
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa, 2000–2024

01232000201220242000: 2.62001: 2.62002: 2.72003: 2.82004: 2.92005: 2.92006: 32007: 3.12008: 3.12009: 3.22010: 3.22011: 3.22012: 3.32013: 3.32014: 3.32015: 3.42016: 3.42017: 3.42018: 3.42019: 3.42020: 3.42021: 3.42022: 3.42023: 3.42024: 3.4

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa is 3.4, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa peaked at 3.42 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.56, in 2000.

That places South Africa 175th out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to septic tanks (Sanitation) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 2.56
2001 2.64 +3.3%
2002 2.72 +3.1%
2003 2.8 +2.8%
2004 2.87 +2.6%
2005 2.94 +2.4%
2006 3 +2.1%
2007 3.06 +2.0%
2008 3.11 +1.8%
2009 3.16 +1.6%
2010 3.21 +1.4%
2011 3.25 +1.3%
2012 3.28 +1.1%
2013 3.32 +1.0%
2014 3.34 +0.8%
2015 3.37 +0.7%
2016 3.39 +0.6%
2017 3.4 +0.5%
2018 3.41 +0.3%
2019 3.42 +0.2%
2020 3.42 +0.1%
2021 3.42 -0.0%
2022 3.42 -0.1%
2023 3.41 -0.2%
2024 3.4 -0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.88 2.56 3.16 10
2010s 3.34 3.21 3.42 10
2020s 3.42 3.4 3.42 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 172 Georgia 3.8 compare
  2. 173 Jamaica 3.64 compare
  3. 174 Papua New Guinea 3.53 compare
  4. 176 Germany 3.36 compare
  5. 177 Tajikistan 3.15 compare
  6. 178 Somalia 3.1 compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa?
Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa was 3.4 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3.42 in 2020.
What is the lowest proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.56 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to?
South Africa ranks 175th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. 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 sanitation facilities connected to septic tanks (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-using-sanitation-facilities-connected-to-septic-tanks-sanitation/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population using sanitation facilities connected to septic tanks (Sanitation)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
272 places, 6,589 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed