South Africa vs Zimbabwe: People not using improved sanitation facilities
South Africa
4.99 million people
in 2024
Zimbabwe
5.70 million people
in 2024
South Africa rank
38th
Zimbabwe rank
35th
People not using improved sanitation facilities over time
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
How they compare
Zimbabwe currently reports 5.70 million people against 4.99 million people in South Africa, a difference of 709,670 people.
That makes Zimbabwe's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 25 shared years of data; in 2000 it was South Africa ahead.
South Africa ranks 38th and Zimbabwe ranks 35th of 232 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.48 million people | 4.40 million people | 6.08 million people | South Africa |
| 2010s | 7.73 million people | 5.01 million people | 2.73 million people | South Africa |
| 2020s | 5.61 million people | 5.53 million people | 75,814 people | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher people not using improved sanitation facilities, South Africa or Zimbabwe?
- Zimbabwe, at 5.70 million people against 4.99 million people in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in people not using improved sanitation facilities between South Africa and Zimbabwe?
- 709,670 people, with Zimbabwe ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zimbabwe?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and Zimbabwe rank globally for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Africa ranks 38th and Zimbabwe ranks 35th 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 not using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.