Safely managed drinking water in South Africa in 2024 — 68%. Ranked 90 in the world out of 148. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 4.8 pp.
2000–2024 · % of population
How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa
| Year | % | Change, pp |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 68 | −0.5 pp |
| 2023 | 68.6 | −0.5 pp |
| 2022 | 69.1 | −0.5 pp |
| 2021 | 69.6 | −0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 69.8 | +0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 69.7 | +0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 69.7 | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 69.6 | +0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 69.4 | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 69.3 | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 69.2 | +0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 69 | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 68.8 | +0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 68.6 | +0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 68.4 | +0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 68.2 | +0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 67.9 | +0.3 pp |
| 2007 | 67.7 | +0.3 pp |
| 2006 | 67.4 | +0.4 pp |
| 2005 | 66.9 | +0.8 pp |
| 2004 | 66.1 | +0.8 pp |
| 2003 | 65.3 | +0.8 pp |
| 2002 | 64.5 | +0.8 pp |
| 2001 | 63.7 | +0.5 pp |
| 2000 | 63.2 | — |
The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages
The share of the population with safely managed drinking water — the top rung of the WHO and UNICEF ladder. Three requirements at once: the source is improved and located in the dwelling or on the plot, water is available when it is needed, and it is free of contamination. It is this indicator that is written into Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, whereas the better-known “basic access” requires only an improved source within half an hour's walk — the gap between the two measures in some countries exceeds forty percentage points.
Important: Stricter than basic access on three counts at once. There are fewer territories than for the basic indicator: testing for contamination requires laboratory data, which are not available everywhere.
Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
The share of the population with access to basic sources of drinking water.
Nutrition Safely managed sanitationThe share of people who have a toilet of their own and whose wastewater is safely disposed of.
Nutrition Handwashing facilitiesThe share of people who have a place at home for washing hands with water and soap.
Mortality Death rate from unsafe water and sanitationHow many deaths per 100,000 people are linked to dirty water and to the absence of sanitation and hygiene.
