Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas was 141,560 people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas 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 people.
Analysis
In 2024, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Sierra Leone stood at 141,560 people.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Sierra Leone peaked at 142,898 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 109,599 people, in 2000.
Sierra Leone ranks 32nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 109,599 people | — |
| 2001 | 114,741 people | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 119,910 people | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 123,140 people | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 125,537 people | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 127,308 people | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 128,620 people | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 129,860 people | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 131,432 people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 133,200 people | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 134,942 people | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 136,464 people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 137,802 people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 138,942 people | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 139,890 people | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 140,630 people | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 141,308 people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 141,932 people | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 142,401 people | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 142,721 people | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 142,898 people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 142,893 people | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 142,673 people | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 142,252 people | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 141,560 people | -0.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 141,560 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 161,906 people, 87% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 141,560 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 154,026 people, 92% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 124,335 people | 109,599 people | 133,200 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 139,703 people | 134,942 people | 142,721 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 142,455 people | 141,560 people | 142,898 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Sierra Leone?
- Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas in Sierra Leone was 141,560 people 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 sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 142,898 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest sanitation facilities usage in urban areas recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 109,599 people in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for sanitation facilities usage in urban areas?
- Sierra Leone ranks 32nd out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sanitation facilities usage in urban areas rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. 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 Sanitation facilities usage in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Open defecation includes defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water or other open spaces, not using any sanitation facilities.