People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa
South Africa: People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per was 0.0517 people per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in people per person.
Analysis
In 2024, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa stood at 0.0517 people per person. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 49.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa peaked at 0.1952 people per person in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0517 people per person, in 2024.
That places South Africa 74th out of 171 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.1952 people per person | — |
| 2001 | 0.188 people per person | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 0.1807 people per person | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 0.1734 people per person | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 0.1663 people per person | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 0.1593 people per person | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 0.1524 people per person | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 0.1457 people per person | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 0.1391 people per person | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 0.1327 people per person | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1263 people per person | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 0.1202 people per person | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 0.1141 people per person | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 0.1082 people per person | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 0.1024 people per person | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 0.0968 people per person | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 0.0913 people per person | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 0.0859 people per person | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 0.0806 people per person | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 0.0755 people per person | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 0.0705 people per person | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0656 people per person | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 0.0609 people per person | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 0.0562 people per person | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 0.0517 people per person | -8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1633 people per person | 0.1327 people per person | 0.1952 people per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1001 people per person | 0.0755 people per person | 0.1263 people per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.061 people per person | 0.0517 people per person | 0.0705 people per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 71 Gabon 0.0607 people per person compare
- 72 Saint Lucia 0.0579 people per person compare
- 73 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.0569 people per person compare
- 75 Marshall Islands 0.0517 people per person compare
- 76 Armenia 0.0509 people per person compare
- 77 Honduras 0.0459 people per person compare
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 in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa?
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per in South Africa was 0.0517 people per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1952 people per person in 2000.
- What is the lowest people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0517 people per person in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per?
- South Africa ranks 74th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
People in rural areas not using improved sanitation facilities divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.