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

Senegal
3.34 million people
in 2024
South Africa
3.31 million people
in 2024
Senegal rank
39th
South Africa rank
40th

People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities over time

  • Senegal
  • South Africa
02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M200020122024

How they compare

Senegal currently reports 3.34 million people against 3.31 million people in South Africa, a difference of 24,930 people.

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

Senegal ranks 39th and South Africa ranks 40th of 175 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Senegal South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 4.31 million people 8.02 million people 3.71 million people South Africa
2010s 3.96 million people 5.56 million people 1.60 million people South Africa
2020s 3.52 million people 3.79 million people 272,266 people South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, Senegal or South Africa?
Senegal, at 3.34 million people against 3.31 million people in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities between Senegal and South Africa?
24,930 people, with Senegal ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Senegal and South Africa?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Senegal and South Africa rank globally for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities?
Senegal ranks 39th 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.