Annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Annual freshwater withdrawals was 212.20 million billion cubic meters in 2022. ▬ Flat
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone, 1987–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in billion cubic meters.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 212.20 million billion cubic meters for annual freshwater withdrawals in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone peaked at 370.00 million billion cubic meters in 1987 and was at its lowest, 126.01 million billion cubic meters, in 1992.
Sierra Leone ranks 149th of 181 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | billion cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 370.00 million billion cubic meters | — |
| 1988 | 321.20 million billion cubic meters | -13.2% |
| 1989 | 272.40 million billion cubic meters | -15.2% |
| 1990 | 223.60 million billion cubic meters | -17.9% |
| 1991 | 174.81 million billion cubic meters | -21.8% |
| 1992 | 126.01 million billion cubic meters | -27.9% |
| 1993 | 133.87 million billion cubic meters | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 141.73 million billion cubic meters | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 149.59 million billion cubic meters | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 157.45 million billion cubic meters | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 165.31 million billion cubic meters | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 173.18 million billion cubic meters | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 181.04 million billion cubic meters | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 188.90 million billion cubic meters | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 193.56 million billion cubic meters | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 198.22 million billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 202.88 million billion cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 207.54 million billion cubic meters | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 212.20 million billion cubic meters is below the median for low income countries, which is 879.60 million billion cubic meters, 24% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 212.20 million billion cubic meters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 694.65 million billion cubic meters, 31% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -27.9% | 174.81 million billion cubic meters | 126.01 million billion cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 321.20 million billion cubic meters | 272.40 million billion cubic meters | 370.00 million billion cubic meters | 3 |
| 1990s | 162.66 million billion cubic meters | 126.01 million billion cubic meters | 223.60 million billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 205.21 million billion cubic meters | 188.90 million billion cubic meters | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 212.20 million billion cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 146 Cyprus 223.00 million billion cubic meters compare
- 146 Togo 223.00 million billion cubic meters compare
- 148 Botswana 213.26 million billion cubic meters compare
- 150 Singapore 199.53 million billion cubic meters compare
- 151 Cape Verde 179.05 million billion cubic meters compare
- 152 Guinea-Bissau 175.00 million billion cubic meters compare
More environment data for Sierra Leone
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.232 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone?
- Annual freshwater withdrawals in Sierra Leone was 212.20 million billion 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 annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 370.00 million billion cubic meters in 1987.
- What is the lowest annual freshwater withdrawals recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 126.01 million billion cubic meters in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for annual freshwater withdrawals?
- Sierra Leone ranks 149th out of 181 countries with data for 2022.
- Is annual freshwater withdrawals rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Annual freshwater withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual freshwater withdrawals refer to total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins, measured in cubic meters (m³) per year. Total water withdrawals are the sum of withdrawals for agriculture, industry and municipal (domestic uses). Withdrawals also include water from desalination plants in countries where they are a significant source.