Water Use Efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Water Use Efficiency was 12.21 USD/m3 in 2023. β² Rising
Water Use Efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000β2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in USD/m3.
Analysis
In 2023, water use efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 12.21 USD/m3. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 12.21 USD/m3 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.48 USD/m3, in 2002.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 18th of 34 regions on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.55 USD/m3 | 7.48 USD/m3 | 9.55 USD/m3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.88 USD/m3 | 10.01 USD/m3 | 11.22 USD/m3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.2 USD/m3 | 10.6 USD/m3 | 12.21 USD/m3 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 15 Germany 145.76 USD/m3 compare
- 16 Norway 142.24 USD/m3 compare
- 17 Angola 132.91 USD/m3 compare
- 18 Antigua and Barbuda 128.5 USD/m3 compare
- 19 Austria 119.36 USD/m3 compare
- 20 Seychelles 116.77 USD/m3 compare
- 21 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 110.84 USD/m3 compare
More environment data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.223 Β°C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.21 Β°C (2025)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 305.43 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Aquaculture production 904,662 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2.29 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Permanent meadows and pastures β Share in Agricultural land 72.81 % (2024)
- Land area equipped for irrigation β Area 7,505 1000 ha (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 13.02 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Water use efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa was 12.21 USD/m3 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.21 USD/m3 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.48 USD/m3 in 2002.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for water use efficiency?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 18th out of 34 regions with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Water Use Efficiency (United States dollars per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).