Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita was 3,162 cubic meters in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
3,162 cubic meters
Change on year
down 2.5%
Rank
32nd
of 45 groups
All-time high
18,768 cubic meters
in 1961
All-time low
3,162 cubic meters
in 2022
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 3,162 cubic meters for renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 18,768 cubic meters in 1961 and was at its lowest, 3,162 cubic meters, in 2022.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 32nd out of 45 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 18,768 cubic meters | — |
| 1962 | 18,319 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 17,876 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1964 | 17,438 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 17,005 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1966 | 16,579 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 16,159 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 15,745 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 15,335 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1970 | 14,931 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 14,538 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 14,158 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 13,779 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 13,399 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 13,025 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 12,662 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1977 | 12,307 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 11,944 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 11,576 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 11,220 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 10,890 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 10,571 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 10,261 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 9,964 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 9,672 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 9,390 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 9,121 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 8,866 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 8,622 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 8,388 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 8,172 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 7,961 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 7,179 cubic meters | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 6,990 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 6,807 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 6,626 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 6,453 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 6,283 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 6,118 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 5,958 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 5,801 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 5,648 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 5,497 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 5,350 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 5,206 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 5,066 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 4,929 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 4,795 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 4,665 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 4,539 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 4,416 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 4,112 cubic meters | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 4,001 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 3,894 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 3,791 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 3,692 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 3,596 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 3,502 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 3,412 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 3,325 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 3,242 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 3,162 cubic meters | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17,025 cubic meters | 15,335 cubic meters | 18,768 cubic meters | 9 |
| 1970s | 13,232 cubic meters | 11,576 cubic meters | 14,931 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,858 cubic meters | 8,622 cubic meters | 11,220 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,098 cubic meters | 6,118 cubic meters | 8,388 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,291 cubic meters | 4,665 cubic meters | 5,958 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,895 cubic meters | 3,412 cubic meters | 4,539 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,243 cubic meters | 3,162 cubic meters | 3,325 cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 29 Costa Rica 22,236 cubic meters compare
- 30 Sierra Leone 19,331 cubic meters compare
- 31 Finland 19,258 cubic meters compare
- 32 Australia 18,910 cubic meters compare
- 33 Brunei Darussalam 18,666 cubic meters compare
- 34 Myanmar 18,654 cubic meters compare
- 35 Paraguay 17,306 cubic meters compare
More infrastructure data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.20 billion (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 90.4 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 5.00 million (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 0.4 per 100 people (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0038 units per person (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -16.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 5.00 million (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 0.9049 units per person (2025)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3,162 cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest renewable internal freshwater resources per capita recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18,768 cubic meters in 1961.
- What is the lowest renewable internal freshwater resources per capita recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,162 cubic meters in 2022.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for renewable internal freshwater resources per capita?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd out of 45 groups with data for 2022.
- Is renewable internal freshwater resources per capita rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Renewable internal freshwater resources flows refer to internal renewable resources (internal river flows and groundwater from rainfall) in the country. Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita are calculated using the World Bank's population estimates.