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Water resources per capita — all countries

Water resources per capita — Sub-Saharan Africa

Water resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022 — 3,162 m³/person. Since 1961, the indicator has fallen by 83.1%.

2022 3,162 m³/person −2.45% vs 2021
World rank —
Period maximum 18,768 m³/person1961
Period minimum 3,162 m³/person2022

Trend over time

1961–2022 · m³ per capita

Water resources per capita — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–202205,00010,00015,00020,00019611968197519821989199620032010201720221961: 18,768 m³/person1963: 17,876 m³/person1965: 17,005 m³/person1967: 16,159 m³/person1969: 15,335 m³/person1971: 14,538 m³/person1973: 13,779 m³/person1975: 13,025 m³/person1977: 12,307 m³/person1979: 11,576 m³/person1981: 10,890 m³/person1983: 10,261 m³/person1985: 9,672 m³/person1987: 9,121 m³/person1989: 8,622 m³/person1991: 8,172 m³/person1993: 7,179 m³/person1995: 6,807 m³/person1997: 6,453 m³/person1999: 6,118 m³/person2001: 5,801 m³/person2003: 5,497 m³/person2005: 5,206 m³/person2007: 4,929 m³/person2009: 4,665 m³/person2011: 4,416 m³/person2013: 4,001 m³/person2015: 3,791 m³/person2017: 3,596 m³/person2019: 3,412 m³/person2021: 3,242 m³/person2022: 3,162 m³/person
Change over the period: −15,606 (−83.15%) Average annual rate: -2.88 %

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 3,162 m³/person
World 5,393 m³/person
Water resources per capita — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year m³/person Change Change, %
2022 3,162 −79 −2.45%
2021 3,242 −83 −2.5%
2020 3,325 −87 −2.54%
2019 3,412 −90 −2.57%
2018 3,502 −94 −2.61%
2017 3,596 −96 −2.6%
2016 3,692 −99 −2.61%
2015 3,791 −103 −2.66%
2014 3,894 −107 −2.67%
2013 4,001 −111 −2.7%
2012 4,112 −304 −6.89%
2011 4,416 −123 −2.7%
2010 4,539 −126 −2.71%
2009 4,665 −130 −2.7%
2008 4,795 −134 −2.71%
2007 4,929 −137 −2.7%
2006 5,066 −140 −2.69%
2005 5,206 −144 −2.69%
2004 5,350 −148 −2.68%
2003 5,497 −150 −2.66%
2002 5,648 −154 −2.65%
2001 5,801 −157 −2.63%
2000 5,958 −160 −2.61%
1999 6,118 −166 −2.64%
1998 6,283 −170 −2.63%
1997 6,453 −173 −2.61%
1996 6,626 −181 −2.66%
1995 6,807 −183 −2.62%
1994 6,990 −189 −2.63%
1993 7,179 −781 −9.82%
1992 7,961 −211 −2.58%
1991 8,172 −216 −2.58%
1990 8,388 −234 −2.71%
1989 8,622 −245 −2.76%
1988 8,866 −255 −2.79%
1987 9,121 −269 −2.87%
1986 9,390 −281 −2.91%
1985 9,672 −292 −2.94%
1984 9,964 −297 −2.9%
1983 10,261 −310 −2.93%
1982 10,571 −319 −2.93%
1981 10,890 −331 −2.95%
1980 11,221 −356 −3.07%
1979 11,576 −367 −3.07%
1978 11,944 −363 −2.95%
1977 12,307 −355 −2.81%
1976 12,662 −363 −2.78%
1975 13,025 −374 −2.79%
1974 13,399 −380 −2.76%
1973 13,779 −378 −2.67%
1972 14,157 −381 −2.62%
1971 14,538 −393 −2.63%
1970 14,931 −404 −2.63%
1969 15,335 −410 −2.6%
1968 15,745 −414 −2.56%
1967 16,159 −420 −2.53%
1966 16,579 −426 −2.51%
1965 17,005 −433 −2.48%
1964 17,438 −438 −2.45%
1963 17,876 −443 −2.42%
1962 18,319 −449 −2.39%
1961 18,768 — —

About the indicator

Internal renewable water resources divided by the population. This is the conventional measure of water scarcity: below 1,700 cubic meters per person a year indicates water stress, below 1,000 scarcity, and below 500 absolute scarcity. The value falls even where the water itself does not diminish — simply from population growth — and the series shows which countries are entering scarcity demographically.

Important: The aggregate for a group is all of its water resources divided by all of its population. The thresholds of 1,700, 1,000 and 500 m³ are widely used benchmarks, not an official classification.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa

Environment Renewable water resources

How much water a country's own annual cycle gives it — with no inflow from abroad.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Freshwater withdrawal as a share of resources

How much water is withdrawn relative to the internal resources available.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Nutrition Safely managed drinking water

The share of people who have water at home, available round the clock and free of contamination.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year
All indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa