AGUACYCLE
Sub-Saharan Africa

Sierra Leone

Capital: Freetown · Low income · Pop. 8.6 million

10.9%
Safely managed drinking water
16.85%
Safely managed sanitation
19,331
m³ freshwater / person / yr
0%
Water stress · Low

Source: World Bank Open Data (WHO/UNICEF JMP & FAO AQUASTAT) · drinking water 2024

In Sierra Leone, 10.9% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2024 estimate). That leaves roughly 7.7 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 16.85% use safely managed sanitation services and 24.91% have at least a basic service (2024).

Sierra Leone has about 19,331 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 0% of those internal resources annually (low water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 22% of Sierra Leone's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Sierra Leone have safe drinking water?

10.9% of Sierra Leone's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 7.7 million people do not.

Does Sierra Leone have enough freshwater?

Sierra Leone has roughly 19,331 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 0% of it annually (low stress).

Elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa