People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa
South Africa: People not using improved sanitation facilities was 4.99 million people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People not using improved 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 not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa is 4.99 million people, 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, people not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa peaked at 11.76 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.99 million people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.48 million people | 9.21 million people | 11.76 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.73 million people | 6.48 million people | 8.94 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.61 million people | 4.99 million people | 6.20 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa?
- People not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa was 4.99 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 not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.76 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest people not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.99 million people in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for people not using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved sanitation facilities 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 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People not using improved 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
If no improved sanitation facility is available, people might practice open defecation or use unimproved sanitation facilities.