Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 36.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone is 36.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone peaked at 36.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2000.
That places Sierra Leone 176th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.9% | — |
| 2001 | 16.2% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 16.7% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 17.5% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 18.3% | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 19.1% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 20.8% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 21.7% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 22.6% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 23.5% | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 24.4% | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 26.3% | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 27.3% | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 28.3% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 29.3% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 30.3% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 31.3% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 32.4% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 33.4% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 34.5% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 35.6% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 36.7% | +3.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 36.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 48.0%, 76% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 36.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 76% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.3% | 15.9% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.8% | 22.6% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.5% | 32.4% | 36.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 983,692 people (2100)
- Population density 220.76 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Sierra Leone was 36.7% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Sierra Leone ranks 176th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.