Argentina vs South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation facilities

Argentina
41.63 million people
in 2016
South Africa
49.53 million people
in 2024
Argentina rank
27th
South Africa rank
24th

People using at least basic sanitation facilities over time

  • Argentina
  • South Africa
010.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M200020122024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 49.53 million people against 41.63 million people in Argentina, a difference of 7.91 million people.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Argentina's.

Across all 17 years both countries report, Argentina has been ahead every year.

Argentina ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 24th of 232 countries.

Argentina has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Argentina South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 35.05 million people 31.58 million people 3.47 million people Argentina
2010s 39.88 million people 38.49 million people 1.39 million people Argentina

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people using at least basic sanitation facilities, Argentina or South Africa?
South Africa, at 49.53 million people against 41.63 million people in Argentina as of 2024.
What is the difference in people using at least basic sanitation facilities between Argentina and South Africa?
7.91 million people, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Argentina and South Africa?
17 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2016.
How do Argentina and South Africa rank globally for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
Argentina ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 24th of 232 countries.
Where does this data come from?
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as People using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Argentina vs South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid, drawing on WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/number-using-at-least-basic-sanitation/argentina/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People using at least basic sanitation facilities
Unit
people
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,597 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Number of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households.