Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities (Share) in South Africa
South Africa: Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities (Share) was 92.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the population 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
South Africa recorded 92.2% for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa peaked at 92.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 75.1%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 159th of 232 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities (Share) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 75.1% | — |
| 2001 | 75.9% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 76.7% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 77.5% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 78.3% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 79.1% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 79.9% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 80.7% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 81.4% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 82.2% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 82.9% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 83.7% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 84.4% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 85.1% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 85.8% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 86.5% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 87.2% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 87.8% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 88.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 89.1% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 89.8% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 90.4% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 91.0% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 91.6% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 92.2% | +0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 92.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 97.4%, 95% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 92.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.4%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 78.7% | 75.1% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.1% | 82.9% | 89.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 91.0% | 89.8% | 92.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa?
- Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in South Africa was 92.2% 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 the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 92.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.1% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities?
- South Africa ranks 159th out of 232 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 the population using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.