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Sierra Leone · Population & demographics

Size, growth, ages, births, deaths, urbanisation and migration.

23 indicators · 23 with data

Population

people

101st of 218 · 29th in Sub-Saharan Africa
PopulationSierra Leone's population rose from 4.2M in 1996 to 8.82M in 2025.2000200520102015202020254M6M8M10M8.82M

Sierra Leone's population rose from 4.2M in 1996 to 8.82M in 2025.

Population growth

annual %

47th of 217 · 34th in Sub-Saharan Africa
Population growthSierra Leone's population growth rose from 0.5 % in 1996 to 2.0 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%2%4%6%2.0 %

Sierra Leone's population growth rose from 0.5 % in 1996 to 2.0 % in 2025.

Population density

people per km² of land area

90th of 215 · 15th in Sub-Saharan Africa
Population densitySierra Leone's population density rose from 57.8 in 1994 to 117.2 in 2023.199520002005201020152020406080100120140117.2

Sierra Leone's population density rose from 57.8 in 1994 to 117.2 in 2023.

Population, female (% of total)

% of population

134th of 217 · 30th in Sub-Saharan Africa
Population, female (% of total)Sierra Leone's population, female (% of total) fell from 50.6 % in 1996 to 50.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%50%50%51%50.1 %

Sierra Leone's population, female (% of total) fell from 50.6 % in 1996 to 50.1 % in 2025.

Urbanisation

% of population

158th of 217 · 21st in Sub-Saharan Africa
UrbanisationSierra Leone's urbanisation rose from 34.7 % in 1996 to 45.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202535%40%45%45.9 %

Sierra Leone's urbanisation rose from 34.7 % in 1996 to 45.9 % in 2025.

Urban population

people

113th of 217 · 27th in Sub-Saharan Africa
Urban populationSierra Leone's urban population rose from 1.46M in 1996 to 4.05M in 2025.2000200520102015202020251M2M3M4M4.05M

Sierra Leone's urban population rose from 1.46M in 1996 to 4.05M in 2025.

Rural population

people

79th of 217 · 30th in Sub-Saharan Africa
Rural populationSierra Leone's rural population rose from 2.74M in 1996 to 4.77M in 2025.2000200520102015202020252.5M3M3.5M4M4.5M5M4.77M

Sierra Leone's rural population rose from 2.74M in 1996 to 4.77M in 2025.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

Latest values — expand for the charts.

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