Annual change in population in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Annual change in population was 183,714 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
183,714 people
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
67th
of 236 countries
All-time high
278,720 people
in 2002
All-time low
-79,900 people
in 1992
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Sierra Leone, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Sierra Leone is 183,714 people, 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 change in population in Sierra Leone peaked at 278,720 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, -79,900 people, 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 change in population in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 23,661 people | — |
| 1952 | 23,912 people | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 23,617 people | -1.2% |
| 1954 | 24,248 people | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 25,829 people | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 27,085 people | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 28,274 people | +4.4% |
| 1958 | 28,587 people | +1.1% |
| 1959 | 30,183 people | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 33,337 people | +10.4% |
| 1961 | 35,868 people | +7.6% |
| 1962 | 38,012 people | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 40,021 people | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 42,131 people | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 44,276 people | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 45,972 people | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 47,753 people | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 49,141 people | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 49,832 people | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 50,920 people | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 50,943 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 51,167 people | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 52,562 people | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 53,507 people | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 54,193 people | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 54,163 people | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 56,537 people | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 60,163 people | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 61,980 people | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 64,595 people | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 66,847 people | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 69,244 people | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 73,456 people | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 77,118 people | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 79,682 people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 89,937 people | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 101,339 people | +12.7% |
| 1988 | 104,797 people | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 99,521 people | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 162,796 people | +63.6% |
| 1991 | 49,434 people | -69.6% |
| 1992 | -79,900 people | -261.6% |
| 1993 | -9,240 people | -88.4% |
| 1994 | 15,983 people | -273.0% |
| 1995 | 6,067 people | -62.0% |
| 1996 | 20,037 people | +230.3% |
| 1997 | 54,495 people | +172.0% |
| 1998 | 42,073 people | -22.8% |
| 1999 | 22,264 people | -47.1% |
| 2000 | 105,568 people | +374.2% |
| 2001 | 269,100 people | +154.9% |
| 2002 | 278,720 people | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 206,251 people | -26.0% |
| 2004 | 178,029 people | -13.7% |
| 2005 | 145,992 people | -18.0% |
| 2006 | 122,757 people | -15.9% |
| 2007 | 124,889 people | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 145,375 people | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 160,927 people | +10.7% |
| 2010 | 167,060 people | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 164,543 people | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 163,820 people | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 162,979 people | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 162,328 people | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 161,275 people | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 167,679 people | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 173,961 people | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 175,268 people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 177,426 people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 180,563 people | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 182,046 people | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 182,206 people | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 183,714 people | +0.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 183,714 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 556,727 people, 33% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 183,714 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940 people, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population 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 people | 105,568 people |
| 1994 | +273.0% | -9,240 people | 15,983 people |
| 1992 | -261.6% | 49,434 people | -79,900 people |
| 1996 | +230.3% | 6,067 people | 20,037 people |
| 1997 | +172.0% | 20,037 people | 54,495 people |
| 2001 | +154.9% | 105,568 people | 269,100 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26,155 people | 23,617 people | 30,183 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 42,634 people | 33,337 people | 49,832 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 54,614 people | 50,920 people | 61,980 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 82,654 people | 64,595 people | 104,797 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 28,401 people | -79,900 people | 162,796 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 173,761 people | 105,568 people | 278,720 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 167,634 people | 161,275 people | 177,426 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 182,132 people | 180,563 people | 183,714 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 64 Tajikistan 207,579 people compare
- 65 Netherlands 188,105 people compare
- 66 Papua New Guinea 186,461 people compare
- 68 Jordan 182,951 people compare
- 69 Honduras 180,973 people compare
- 70 Bolivia 167,005 people 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)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 220.76 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 983,692 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Sierra Leone?
- Annual change in population in Sierra Leone was 183,714 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 278,720 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -79,900 people in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for annual change in population?
- Sierra Leone ranks 67th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. 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).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.