Sanitation facilities usage in South Africa
South Africa: Sanitation facilities usage was 177,162 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Sanitation facilities usage 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 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 91.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in South Africa peaked at 5.39 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 177,162 people, in 2024.
That places South Africa 59th out of 232 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sanitation facilities usage in South Africa, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.39 million people | — |
| 2001 | 5.15 million people | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 4.91 million people | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 4.67 million people | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 4.44 million people | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 4.20 million people | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 3.96 million people | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 3.72 million people | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 3.49 million people | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 3.26 million people | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 3.02 million people | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 2.79 million people | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 2.56 million people | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 2.34 million people | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 2.11 million people | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 1.89 million people | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 1.65 million people | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 1.40 million people | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 1.17 million people | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 933,047 people | -20.1% |
| 2020 | 695,353 people | -25.5% |
| 2021 | 455,205 people | -34.5% |
| 2022 | 247,788 people | -45.6% |
| 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 3,951 people, 44.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 177,162 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.31 million people, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sanitation facilities usage in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -45.6% | 455,205 people | 247,788 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.32 million people | 3.26 million people | 5.39 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.99 million people | 933,047 people | 3.02 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 357,765 people | 177,162 people | 695,353 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 South Africa?
- Sanitation facilities usage 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 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.39 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 177,162 people in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for sanitation facilities usage?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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. 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.