Sierra Leone vs Sri Lanka: People in rural areas not using an improved water source
Sierra Leone
1.81 million people
in 2024
Sri Lanka
1.88 million people
in 2024
Sierra Leone rank
37th
Sri Lanka rank
36th
People in rural areas not using an improved water source over time
- Sierra Leone
- Sri Lanka
How they compare
Sri Lanka currently reports 1.88 million people against 1.81 million people in Sierra Leone, a difference of 66,170 people.
Across all 25 years both countries report, Sri Lanka has been ahead every year.
Sierra Leone ranks 37th and Sri Lanka ranks 36th of 178 countries.
Sri Lanka has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Sierra Leone | Sri Lanka | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.18 million people | 2.59 million people | 410,619 people | Sri Lanka |
| 2010s | 2.11 million people | 2.24 million people | 135,550 people | Sri Lanka |
| 2020s | 1.89 million people | 1.93 million people | 40,664 people | Sri Lanka |
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, Sierra Leone or Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka, at 1.88 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 Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka?
- 66,170 people, with Sri Lanka ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka rank globally for people in rural areas not using an improved water source?
- Sierra Leone ranks 37th and Sri Lanka ranks 36th 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
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.