South Africa: Access to drinking water, urban

The latest value from 2024 is 75.6 percent, a decline from 76.4 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 69.5 percent, based on data from 99 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 2000 to 2024 is 84.5 percent. The minimum value, 75.6 percent, was reached in 2024 while the maximum of 90.3 percent was recorded in 2004. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

Definition: Access to an improved water source, urban, refers to the percentage of the urban population using an improved drinking water source. The improved drinking water source includes piped water on premises (piped household water connection located inside the users' dwelling, plot or yard), and other improved drinking water sources (public taps or standpipes, tube wells or boreholes, protected dug wells, protected springs, and rainwater collection).