Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Renewable freshwater resources per capita was 19,331 cubic meters in 2022. ▼ Falling
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone, 1961–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2022, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone stood at 19,331 cubic meters. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone peaked at 69,438 cubic meters in 1961 and was at its lowest, 19,331 cubic meters, in 2022.
That places Sierra Leone 30th out of 183 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 69,438 cubic meters | — |
| 1962 | 68,311 cubic meters | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 67,163 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 65,996 cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 64,812 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 63,627 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 62,442 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 1968 | 61,267 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 60,120 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 58,991 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 57,903 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 56,851 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 55,808 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 54,786 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 53,788 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 52,826 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 51,858 cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 50,866 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 49,883 cubic meters | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 48,898 cubic meters | -2.0% |
| 1981 | 47,919 cubic meters | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 46,946 cubic meters | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 45,955 cubic meters | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 44,960 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 43,975 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 42,914 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 41,778 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 40,666 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 39,662 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 38,124 cubic meters | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 37,680 cubic meters | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 38,403 cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 38,488 cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 38,341 cubic meters | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 38,285 cubic meters | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 38,102 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 37,614 cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 37,246 cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 37,054 cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 36,170 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 34,095 cubic meters | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 32,184 cubic meters | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 30,902 cubic meters | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 29,875 cubic meters | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 29,082 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 28,447 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 27,829 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 27,143 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 26,422 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 25,712 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 25,050 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 24,424 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 23,831 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 23,268 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 22,735 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 22,206 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 21,682 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 21,179 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 20,693 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 20,221 cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 19,766 cubic meters | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 19,331 cubic meters | -2.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 19,331 cubic meters is above the median for low income countries, which is 973.01 cubic meters, 19.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 19,331 cubic meters is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,439 cubic meters, 13.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 64,797 cubic meters | 60,120 cubic meters | 69,438 cubic meters | 9 |
| 1970s | 54,356 cubic meters | 49,883 cubic meters | 58,991 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1980s | 44,367 cubic meters | 39,662 cubic meters | 48,898 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 37,934 cubic meters | 37,054 cubic meters | 38,488 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,215 cubic meters | 26,422 cubic meters | 36,170 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 23,078 cubic meters | 20,693 cubic meters | 25,712 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,773 cubic meters | 19,331 cubic meters | 20,221 cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More energy & mining data for Sierra Leone
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 3.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 1.1% (2018)
- Ores and metals imports 1.0% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone?
- Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Sierra Leone was 19,331 cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 69,438 cubic meters in 1961.
- What is the lowest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,331 cubic meters in 2022.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for renewable freshwater resources per capita?
- Sierra Leone ranks 30th out of 183 countries with data for 2022.
- Is renewable freshwater resources per capita rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Renewable freshwater resources per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable internal freshwater resources flows refer to internal renewable resources (internal river flows and groundwater from rainfall) in the country.