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Environment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Sierra Leone: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 0.17 t (2024), 182nd of 203 in the world and 35th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. GHG per person is 0.92 t (2024), 185th of 203 in the world and 41st of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. GHG emissions is 7.9 Mt (2024), 149th of 203 in the world and 36th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
CO₂ per person
Sierra LeoneSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
GHG per person
Sierra LeoneSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: Sierra Leone in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 0.17 t2024 | 182/203 | 35/47 | 0.10 t | 0.11 t | 0.16 t | −3.6%since 2014 | 0.70 t | 0.30 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 0.92 t2024 | 185/203 | 41/47 | 0.77 t | 0.88 t | 0.87 t | −6.0%since 2014 | 1.91 t | 1.43 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 7.9 Mt2024 | 149/203 | 36/47 | 3.4 Mt | 5.5 Mt | 6.9 Mt | +18%since 2014 | 2,444.8 Mt | 1,053.9 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 1.5 Mt2024 | 157/203 | 34/47 | 0.4 Mt | 0.7 Mt | 1.2 Mt | +21%since 2014 | 896.3 Mt | 224.0 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 5.6 Mt2024 | 122/203 | 33/47 | 2.6 Mt | 4.1 Mt | 4.8 Mt | +19%since 2014 | 1,179.9 Mt | 619.9 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 71.6%2022 | 25/212 | 21/48 | 93.3% | 84.9% | 75.1% | −7.5 ppsince 2012 | 70.3% | 74.6% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 75.3%2021 | 37/206 | 15/48 | 34.8% | 87.4% | 75.3% | −11.8 ppsince 2011 | 32.6% | 59.1% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 22.5 µg/m³2023 | 69/200 | 29/48 | 23.5 µg/m³ | 21.8 µg/m³ | 22.7 µg/m³ | +8.7%since 2013 | 35.4 µg/m³ | 31.3 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 34.0%2024 | 101/214 | 17/48 | 40.6% | 37.9% | 35.1% | −2.7 ppsince 2014 | 25.7% | 19.9% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 55.2%2024 | 50/210 | 21/48 | 38.9% | 54.5% | 54.7% | +0.5 ppsince 2014 | 44.7% | 42.1% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 21.9%2024 | 48/206 | 13/48 | 6.8% | 21.9% | 21.9% | ±0.0 ppsince 2014 | 10.0% | 9.4% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 5.1%2025 | 146/213 | 36/48 | · | · | 3.3% | +1.8 ppsince 2015 | 14.0% | 10.3% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 0.1%2022 | 169/177 | 41/47 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | ±0.0 ppsince 2012 | 3.4% | 5.1% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 19,331 m³2022 | 30/183 | 5/47 | 36,170 m³ | 25,712 m³ | 20,221 m³ | −21%since 2012 | 3,162 m³ | 3,260 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 1,370 kg/ha2024 | 145/179 | 21/46 | 1,078 kg/ha | 1,747 kg/ha | 1,630 kg/ha | −9.8%since 2014 | 1,453 kg/ha | 1,345 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person−3.6%0.17 t in 2024
- GHG per person−6.0%0.92 t in 2024
- Protected areas+1.8 pp5.1% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- GHG emissions+18%7.9 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions+21%1.5 Mt in 2024
- Methane+19%5.6 Mt in 2024
- Renewable energy−7.5 pp71.6% in 2022
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Sierra Leone and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Sierra Leone. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Sierra Leone | Guinea | Liberia |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 0.17 t2024 | 0.35 t2024 | 0.15 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 0.92 t2024 | 1.99 t2024 | 0.79 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 7.9 Mt2024 | 29.4 Mt2024 | 4.5 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 1.5 Mt2024 | 5.2 Mt2024 | 0.9 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 5.6 Mt2024 | 19.0 Mt2024 | 3.1 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 71.6%2022 | 66.6%2022 | 92.8%2022 |
| Renewable power | 75.3%2021 | 88.1%2021 | 57.4%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 22.5 µg/m³2023 | 27.3 µg/m³2023 | 17.9 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 34.0%2024 | 20.0%2024 | 66.1%2024 |