People using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa
South Africa: People using at least basic sanitation facilities was 49.53 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for people using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa is 49.53 million people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa peaked at 49.53 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 28.53 million people, in 2000.
That places South Africa 24th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 28.53 million people | — |
| 2001 | 29.15 million people | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 29.80 million people | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 30.48 million people | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 31.17 million people | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 31.87 million people | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 32.58 million people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 33.30 million people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 34.07 million people | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 34.86 million people | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 35.65 million people | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 36.48 million people | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 37.40 million people | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 38.41 million people | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 39.44 million people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 40.63 million people | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 41.40 million people | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 42.06 million people | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 43.16 million people | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 44.26 million people | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 45.37 million people | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 46.46 million people | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 47.51 million people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 48.54 million people | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 49.53 million people | +2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 49.53 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.56 million people, 7.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 49.53 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.62 million people, 10.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.58 million people | 28.53 million people | 34.86 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.89 million people | 35.65 million people | 44.26 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.48 million people | 45.37 million people | 49.53 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa?
- People using at least basic sanitation facilities in South Africa was 49.53 million people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49.53 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.53 million people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for people using at least basic sanitation facilities?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation facilities rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People using at least basic sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households.