Sanitation facilities coverage in South Africa
South Africa: Sanitation facilities coverage was 177,162 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Sanitation facilities coverage in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, sanitation facilities coverage in South Africa stood at 177,162. 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 coverage in South Africa peaked at 5.39 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 177,162, 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 coverage in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.39 million | — |
| 2001 | 5.15 million | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 4.91 million | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 4.67 million | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 4.44 million | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 4.20 million | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 3.96 million | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 3.72 million | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 3.49 million | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 3.26 million | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 3.02 million | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 2.79 million | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 2.56 million | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 2.34 million | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 2.11 million | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 1.89 million | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 1.65 million | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 1.40 million | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 1.17 million | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 933,047 | -20.1% |
| 2020 | 695,353 | -25.5% |
| 2021 | 455,205 | -34.5% |
| 2022 | 247,788 | -45.6% |
| 2023 | 213,316 | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 177,162 | -16.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 177,162 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,951, 44.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 177,162 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.31 million, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sanitation facilities coverage 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 | 247,788 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.32 million | 3.26 million | 5.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.99 million | 933,047 | 3.02 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 357,765 | 177,162 | 695,353 | 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 coverage in South Africa?
- Sanitation facilities coverage in South Africa was 177,162 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sanitation facilities coverage recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.39 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities coverage recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 177,162 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for sanitation facilities coverage?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities coverage 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Sanitation facilities coverage. 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).