Water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Water withdrawals per capita was 177.16 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
177.16 cubic meters per person
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
116th
of 180 countries
All-time high
200.8 cubic meters per person
in 2016
All-time low
53.65 cubic meters per person
in 1993
Years of data
31
1993–2023
Water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe, 1993–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe is 177.16 cubic meters per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 200.8 cubic meters per person in 2016 and was at its lowest, 53.65 cubic meters per person, in 1993.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 116th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 53.65 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1994 | 63.84 cubic meters per person | +19.0% |
| 1995 | 73.75 cubic meters per person | +15.5% |
| 1996 | 83.39 cubic meters per person | +13.1% |
| 1997 | 92.83 cubic meters per person | +11.3% |
| 1998 | 102.09 cubic meters per person | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 111.23 cubic meters per person | +8.9% |
| 2000 | 120.24 cubic meters per person | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 128.38 cubic meters per person | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 135.17 cubic meters per person | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 141.33 cubic meters per person | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 147.19 cubic meters per person | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 152.73 cubic meters per person | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 157.94 cubic meters per person | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 162.84 cubic meters per person | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 167.49 cubic meters per person | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 171.95 cubic meters per person | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 176.33 cubic meters per person | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 180.61 cubic meters per person | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 184.78 cubic meters per person | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 188.86 cubic meters per person | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 192.88 cubic meters per person | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 196.84 cubic meters per person | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 200.8 cubic meters per person | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 197.61 cubic meters per person | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 194.59 cubic meters per person | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 191.67 cubic meters per person | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 188.1 cubic meters per person | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 184.27 cubic meters per person | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 180.73 cubic meters per person | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 177.16 cubic meters per person | -2.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 177.16 cubic meters per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 178.62 cubic meters per person, 99% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 177.16 cubic meters per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.54 cubic meters per person, 3.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.97 cubic meters per person | 53.65 cubic meters per person | 111.23 cubic meters per person | 7 |
| 2000s | 148.53 cubic meters per person | 120.24 cubic meters per person | 171.95 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 190.5 cubic meters per person | 176.33 cubic meters per person | 200.8 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 182.56 cubic meters per person | 177.16 cubic meters per person | 188.1 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 113 Guatemala 183.4 cubic meters per person compare
- 114 Bolivia 180.08 cubic meters per person compare
- 115 Somalia 179.64 cubic meters per person compare
- 117 Eritrea 167.71 cubic meters per person compare
- 118 Senegal 167.12 cubic meters per person compare
- 119 Denmark 165.56 cubic meters per person compare
More environment data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -16.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -12.85 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.214 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.16 °C (2025)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Water withdrawals per capita in Sao Tome and Principe was 177.16 cubic meters per person in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 200.8 cubic meters per person in 2016.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.65 cubic meters per person in 1993.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 116th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Water withdrawals per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, divided by the population.