Number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa
South Africa: Number without access to improved sanitation was 4.99 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa is 4.99 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa peaked at 11.76 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.99 million, in 2024.
That places South Africa 38th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.76 million | — |
| 2001 | 11.48 million | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 11.19 million | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 10.91 million | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 10.62 million | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 10.34 million | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 10.05 million | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 9.77 million | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 9.49 million | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 9.21 million | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 8.94 million | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 8.66 million | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 8.40 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 8.15 million | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 7.90 million | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 7.67 million | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 7.36 million | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 7.02 million | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 6.76 million | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 6.48 million | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 6.20 million | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 5.91 million | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 5.61 million | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 5.31 million | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 4.99 million | -5.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.99 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 67,932, 73.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.99 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.36 million, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.48 million | 9.21 million | 11.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.73 million | 6.48 million | 8.94 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.61 million | 4.99 million | 6.20 million | 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 number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa?
- Number without access to improved sanitation in South Africa was 4.99 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number without access to improved sanitation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.76 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest number without access to improved sanitation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.99 million in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for number without access to improved sanitation?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number without access to improved sanitation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number without access to improved sanitation. 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).