Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa
South Africa: Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities was 7.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of population 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 %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa is 7.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa peaked at 24.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 74th out of 232 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.
Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.9% | — |
| 2001 | 24.1% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 23.3% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 22.5% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 21.7% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 20.9% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 20.1% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 19.3% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 18.6% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 17.8% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 17.1% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 16.3% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 14.9% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 12.8% | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 10.9% | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 9.0% | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | -7.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.6%, 3.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 21% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.3% | 17.8% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 10.9% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.0% | 7.8% | 10.2% | 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 share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa?
- Share of population not using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa was 7.8% 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 share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for share of population not using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Africa ranks 74th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of population not using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.1%. 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 Share of population 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.