Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites was 7.52 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
7.52
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
61st
of 231 countries
All-time high
13.5
in 2000
All-time low
7.52
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa, 2000–2024

0510152000201220242000: 13.52001: 13.32002: 13.12003: 12.82004: 12.62005: 12.42006: 12.22007: 122008: 11.72009: 11.52010: 11.32011: 11.12012: 10.92013: 10.62014: 10.42015: 10.22016: 102017: 9.82018: 9.52019: 9.32020: 9.12021: 8.92022: 8.62023: 8.12024: 7.5

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 7.52 for proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 27.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa peaked at 13.5 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.52, in 2024.

That places South Africa 61st out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites (Sanitation) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 13.5
2001 13.29 -1.6%
2002 13.07 -1.7%
2003 12.85 -1.7%
2004 12.63 -1.7%
2005 12.4 -1.8%
2006 12.18 -1.8%
2007 11.96 -1.8%
2008 11.74 -1.9%
2009 11.52 -1.9%
2010 11.3 -1.9%
2011 11.07 -2.0%
2012 10.85 -2.0%
2013 10.63 -2.0%
2014 10.41 -2.1%
2015 10.19 -2.1%
2016 9.97 -2.2%
2017 9.75 -2.2%
2018 9.53 -2.2%
2019 9.31 -2.3%
2020 9.09 -2.3%
2021 8.88 -2.4%
2022 8.6 -3.1%
2023 8.06 -6.4%
2024 7.52 -6.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.51 11.52 13.5 10
2010s 10.3 9.31 11.3 10
2020s 8.43 7.52 9.09 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 58 Georgia 8.47 compare
  2. 59 Moldova 8.07 compare
  3. 60 Russia 7.78 compare
  4. 62 Brazil 7.5 compare
  5. 63 Niger 7.49 compare
  6. 64 Mongolia 7.33 compare

See the full ranking of 292 places →

More population data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa?
Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa was 7.52 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 13.5 in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.52 in 2024.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites?
South Africa ranks 61st out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. 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 unimproved sanitation facilites (Sanitation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-using-unimproved-sanitation-facilites-sanitation/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population using unimproved sanitation facilites (Sanitation)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
292 places, 7,089 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed