Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence was 3.7 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.7 births per woman
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
35th
of 215 countries
All-time high
6.61 births per woman
in 1987
All-time low
3.7 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone stood at 3.7 births per woman. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone peaked at 6.61 births per woman in 1987 and was at its lowest, 3.7 births per woman, in 2024.
Sierra Leone ranks 35th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.17 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 6.21 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 6.22 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 6.26 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 6.29 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1965 | 6.31 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 6.34 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 6.38 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 6.38 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 6.39 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 6.41 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 6.43 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 6.45 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 6.47 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 6.53 births per woman | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 6.55 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 6.55 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 6.57 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 6.59 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 6.58 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 6.56 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 6.55 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 6.56 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 6.57 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 6.59 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 6.59 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 6.6 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 6.61 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 6.59 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 6.57 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 6.57 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 6.55 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 6.55 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 6.57 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 6.56 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 6.55 births per woman | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 6.55 births per woman | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 6.53 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 6.5 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 6.42 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 6.36 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 6.3 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 6.23 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 6.09 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 5.92 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 5.81 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 5.74 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 5.64 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 5.56 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 5.45 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 5.33 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 5.21 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 5.06 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 4.87 births per woman | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 4.7 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 4.55 births per woman | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 4.47 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 4.39 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 4.29 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.19 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 4.08 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.98 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 3.88 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 3.79 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 3.7 births per woman | -2.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.7 births per woman is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.11 births per woman, 90% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.7 births per woman is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.91 births per woman, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.3 births per woman | 6.17 births per woman | 6.39 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.51 births per woman | 6.41 births per woman | 6.59 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.58 births per woman | 6.55 births per woman | 6.61 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.54 births per woman | 6.42 births per woman | 6.57 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.91 births per woman | 5.45 births per woman | 6.36 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.71 births per woman | 4.19 births per woman | 5.33 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.89 births per woman | 3.7 births per woman | 4.08 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
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 total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone?
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Sierra Leone was 3.7 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 6.61 births per woman in 1987.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence?
- Sierra Leone ranks 35th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. Contraceptive prevalence is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception.