Proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water (%) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water (%) was 54.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 2016–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 54.7%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 54.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 43.3%, in 2016.
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 164th of 178 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water (%) in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 43.3% | — |
| 2017 | 43.9% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 45.1% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 45.9% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 47.5% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 48.9% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 52.1% | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 53.3% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 54.7% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 44.6% | 43.3% | 45.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 51.3% | 47.5% | 54.7% | 5 |
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.52 million (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 54.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.3% in 2016.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 164th out of 178 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of primary schools with access to basic drinking water (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release