Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural was 0.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa is 0.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 18.0% on the previous year and down 92.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa peaked at 11.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 87th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.4% | — |
| 2001 | 10.8% | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 10.2% | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 9.6% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 9.1% | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 8.5% | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 6.8% | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 3.8% | -11.2% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | -12.3% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | -13.7% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | -15.5% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | -18.0% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -21.4% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | -26.7% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -35.5% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -46.3% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -15.0% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -18.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.8% | 6.3% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 1.6% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 1.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.01 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0158 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -25.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa?
- Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural in South Africa was 0.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural?
- South Africa ranks 87th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population practicing open defecation, by urban/rural (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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