People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) was 15.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Sierra Leone, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
In 2024, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Sierra Leone stood at 15.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 74.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Sierra Leone peaked at 15.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2000.
Sierra Leone ranks 159th of 171 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.1% | — |
| 2001 | 3.3% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | +10.3% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 6.2% | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 6.6% | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 8.2% | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 8.8% | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 9.9% | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 10.5% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 11.2% | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 13.9% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 14.6% | +5.2% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | +5.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 15.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 22.5%, 68% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 15.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.6%, 62% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.1% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 6.6% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 12.5% | 15.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 156 Solomon Islands 20.2% compare
- 157 Papua New Guinea 19.6% compare
- 158 Guinea-Bissau 17.2% compare
- 160 Togo 14.3% compare
- 161 Benin 11.8% compare
- 162 Democratic Republic of Congo 11.2% compare
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Sierra Leone?
- People using at least basic sanitation services, rural in Sierra Leone was 15.3% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest people using at least basic sanitation services, rural recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 15.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest people using at least basic sanitation services, rural recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for people using at least basic sanitation services, rural?
- Sierra Leone ranks 159th out of 171 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people using at least basic sanitation services, rural rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.9%. 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 (JMP) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of People using at least basic sanitation services, rural (% of rural population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of people using at least basic sanitation services, that is, improved sanitation facilities that are not shared with other households. This indicator encompasses both people using basic sanitation services as well as those using safely managed sanitation services. Improved sanitation facilities include flush/pour flush to piped sewer systems, septic tanks or pit latrines; ventilated improved pit latrines, composting toilets or pit latrines with slabs.