Ghana vs Sierra Leone: People in rural areas not using an improved water source

Ghana
1.93 million people
in 2024
Sierra Leone
1.81 million people
in 2024
Ghana rank
34th
Sierra Leone rank
37th

People in rural areas not using an improved water source over time

  • Ghana
  • Sierra Leone
01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M200020122024

How they compare

Ghana currently reports 1.93 million people against 1.81 million people in Sierra Leone, a difference of 115,130 people.

That makes Ghana's figure about 1.1 times Sierra Leone's.

Across all 25 years both countries report, Ghana has been ahead every year.

Ghana ranks 34th and Sierra Leone ranks 37th of 178 countries.

Ghana has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ghana Sierra Leone Difference Ahead
2000s 3.75 million people 2.18 million people 1.57 million people Ghana
2010s 2.97 million people 2.11 million people 863,207 people Ghana
2020s 2.17 million people 1.89 million people 273,572 people Ghana

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher people in rural areas not using an improved water source, Ghana or Sierra Leone?
Ghana, at 1.93 million people against 1.81 million people in Sierra Leone as of 2024.
What is the difference in people in rural areas not using an improved water source between Ghana and Sierra Leone?
115,130 people, with Ghana ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ghana and Sierra Leone?
25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
How do Ghana and Sierra Leone rank globally for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
Ghana ranks 34th and Sierra Leone ranks 37th of 178 countries.
Where does this data come from?
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as People in rural areas not using an improved water source. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator
People in rural areas not using an improved water source
Unit
people
Source
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
178 places, 4,351 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Number of people not using improved drinking water sources. These people might use surface water sources or unprotected springs or wells, as no safe and reliable improved drinking water source is available to them.