Annual population growth in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Annual population growth was 183,714 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
183,714
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
67th
of 236 countries
All-time high
278,720
in 2002
All-time low
-79,900
in 1992
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Sierra Leone, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual population growth in Sierra Leone is 183,714, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Sierra Leone peaked at 278,720 in 2002 and was at its lowest, -79,900, in 1992.
Sierra Leone ranks 67th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 23,661 | — |
| 1952 | 23,912 | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 23,617 | -1.2% |
| 1954 | 24,248 | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 25,829 | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 27,085 | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 28,274 | +4.4% |
| 1958 | 28,587 | +1.1% |
| 1959 | 30,183 | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 33,337 | +10.4% |
| 1961 | 35,868 | +7.6% |
| 1962 | 38,012 | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 40,021 | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 42,131 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 44,276 | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 45,972 | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 47,753 | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 49,141 | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 49,832 | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 50,920 | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 50,943 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 51,167 | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 52,562 | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 53,507 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 54,193 | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 54,163 | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 56,537 | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 60,163 | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 61,980 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 64,595 | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 66,847 | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 69,244 | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 73,456 | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 77,118 | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 79,682 | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 89,937 | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 101,339 | +12.7% |
| 1988 | 104,797 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 99,521 | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 162,796 | +63.6% |
| 1991 | 49,434 | -69.6% |
| 1992 | -79,900 | -261.6% |
| 1993 | -9,240 | -88.4% |
| 1994 | 15,983 | -273.0% |
| 1995 | 6,067 | -62.0% |
| 1996 | 20,037 | +230.3% |
| 1997 | 54,495 | +172.0% |
| 1998 | 42,073 | -22.8% |
| 1999 | 22,264 | -47.1% |
| 2000 | 105,568 | +374.2% |
| 2001 | 269,100 | +154.9% |
| 2002 | 278,720 | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 206,251 | -26.0% |
| 2004 | 178,029 | -13.7% |
| 2005 | 145,992 | -18.0% |
| 2006 | 122,757 | -15.9% |
| 2007 | 124,889 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 145,375 | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 160,927 | +10.7% |
| 2010 | 167,060 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 164,543 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 163,820 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 162,979 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 162,328 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 161,275 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 167,679 | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 173,961 | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 175,268 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 177,426 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 180,563 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 182,046 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 182,206 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 183,714 | +0.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 183,714 is below the median for low income countries, which is 556,727, 33% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 183,714 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +374.2% | 22,264 | 105,568 |
| 1994 | +273.0% | -9,240 | 15,983 |
| 1992 | -261.6% | 49,434 | -79,900 |
| 1996 | +230.3% | 6,067 | 20,037 |
| 1997 | +172.0% | 20,037 | 54,495 |
| 2001 | +154.9% | 105,568 | 269,100 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26,155 | 23,617 | 30,183 | 9 |
| 1960s | 42,634 | 33,337 | 49,832 | 10 |
| 1970s | 54,614 | 50,920 | 61,980 | 10 |
| 1980s | 82,654 | 64,595 | 104,797 | 10 |
| 1990s | 28,401 | -79,900 | 162,796 | 10 |
| 2000s | 173,761 | 105,568 | 278,720 | 10 |
| 2010s | 167,634 | 161,275 | 177,426 | 10 |
| 2020s | 182,132 | 180,563 | 183,714 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 64 Tajikistan 207,579 compare
- 65 Netherlands 188,105 compare
- 66 Papua New Guinea 186,461 compare
- 68 Jordan 182,951 compare
- 69 Honduras 180,973 compare
- 70 Bolivia 167,005 compare
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 13,595 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.137 (2100)
- Population density 220.76 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 983,692 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Sierra Leone?
- Annual population growth in Sierra Leone was 183,714 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 278,720 in 2002.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -79,900 in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for annual population growth?
- Sierra Leone ranks 67th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).