Philippines vs South Africa: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities

Philippines
3.13 million people
in 2024
South Africa
3.31 million people
in 2024
Philippines rank
41st
South Africa rank
40th

People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities over time

  • Philippines
  • South Africa
4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M12.0M200020122024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 3.31 million people against 3.13 million people in Philippines, a difference of 185,340 people.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Philippines's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 25 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Philippines ahead.

Philippines ranks 41st and South Africa ranks 40th of 175 countries.

Philippines has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Philippines South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 10.41 million people 8.02 million people 2.38 million people Philippines
2010s 7.51 million people 5.56 million people 1.94 million people Philippines
2020s 4.14 million people 3.79 million people 344,978 people Philippines

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, Philippines or South Africa?
South Africa, at 3.31 million people against 3.13 million people in Philippines as of 2024.
What is the difference in people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities between Philippines and South Africa?
185,340 people, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Philippines and South Africa?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Philippines and South Africa rank globally for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
Philippines ranks 41st and South Africa ranks 40th of 175 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 in rural areas 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

Indicator
People in rural areas not using improved 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
175 places, 4,269 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.