Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in South Africa
South Africa: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 177,162 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas 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
In 2024, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in South Africa stood at 177,162 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 16.9% on the previous year and down 62.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in South Africa peaked at 692,773 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 177,162 people, in 2024.
That places South Africa 25th out of 186 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.
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 692,773 people | — |
| 2001 | 679,794 people | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 667,318 people | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 654,600 people | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 641,132 people | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 626,822 people | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 611,695 people | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 595,874 people | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 579,707 people | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 562,762 people | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 544,741 people | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 525,956 people | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 507,297 people | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 488,274 people | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 467,976 people | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 447,865 people | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 421,648 people | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 393,204 people | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 367,570 people | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 340,274 people | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 311,317 people | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 280,514 people | -9.9% |
| 2022 | 247,788 people | -11.7% |
| 2023 | 213,316 people | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 177,162 people | -16.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 177,162 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 156.93 people, 1128.9× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 177,162 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 154,026 people, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 631,248 people | 562,762 people | 692,773 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 450,480 people | 340,274 people | 544,741 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 246,019 people | 177,162 people | 311,317 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 sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in South Africa?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in South Africa was 177,162 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 sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 692,773 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 177,162 people in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.1%. 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 Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas. 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
Open defecation includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.