Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Long term urban population region, annual growth rate was 1.21 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.21 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
56th
of 202 countries
All-time high
3.67 % change on previous year
in 1974
All-time low
-0.4526 % change on previous year
in 1996
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone is 1.21 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone peaked at 3.67 % change on previous year in 1974 and was at its lowest, -0.4526 % change on previous year, in 1996.
Sierra Leone ranks 56th of 202 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.
Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 3.64 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 3.6 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1953 | 3.58 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 3.57 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 1955 | 3.56 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1956 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 1957 | 3.51 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1958 | 3.49 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1959 | 3.44 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1961 | 3.33 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 1962 | 3.29 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 3.24 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 3.16 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 3.13 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 3.09 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 3.03 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 1969 | 2.94 % change on previous year | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 2.83 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 1971 | 3.59 % change on previous year | +26.7% |
| 1972 | 3.6 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 3.62 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 3.67 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 3.13 % change on previous year | -14.8% |
| 1976 | 1.58 % change on previous year | -49.3% |
| 1977 | 1.68 % change on previous year | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 1.75 % change on previous year | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 1.79 % change on previous year | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 1.81 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 1.36 % change on previous year | -24.6% |
| 1982 | 1.34 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 1.41 % change on previous year | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 1.63 % change on previous year | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 1.88 % change on previous year | +15.5% |
| 1986 | 1.42 % change on previous year | -24.1% |
| 1987 | 1.29 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 1.17 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 1989 | 0.6048 % change on previous year | -48.3% |
| 1990 | -0.2183 % change on previous year | -136.1% |
| 1991 | 1.51 % change on previous year | -789.7% |
| 1992 | 0.7277 % change on previous year | -51.7% |
| 1993 | 0.2806 % change on previous year | -61.4% |
| 1994 | 0.3193 % change on previous year | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 0.7351 % change on previous year | +130.2% |
| 1996 | -0.4526 % change on previous year | -161.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0011 % change on previous year | -100.3% |
| 1998 | 0.5918 % change on previous year | +51449.4% |
| 1999 | 1.3 % change on previous year | +120.2% |
| 2000 | 2.06 % change on previous year | +57.7% |
| 2001 | 0.5964 % change on previous year | -71.0% |
| 2002 | 0.5929 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 0.5894 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 0.5859 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 0.5825 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 0.5791 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.5758 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 0.5725 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 0.5692 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 0.566 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 1.56 % change on previous year | +175.9% |
| 2012 | 1.54 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 1.51 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.49 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.47 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 1.41 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 1.39 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.37 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.27 % change on previous year | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 1.25 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.24 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 1.22 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 1.21 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.21 % change on previous year is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.55 % change on previous year, 78% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.21 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.23 % change on previous year, 98% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long term urban population region, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +51449.4% | 0.0011 % change on previous year | 0.5918 % change on previous year |
| 1991 | +789.7% | -0.2183 % change on previous year | 1.51 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | +175.9% | 0.566 % change on previous year | 1.56 % change on previous year |
| 1996 | -161.6% | 0.7351 % change on previous year | -0.4526 % change on previous year |
| 1990 | -136.1% | 0.6048 % change on previous year | -0.2183 % change on previous year |
| 1995 | +130.2% | 0.3193 % change on previous year | 0.7351 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.55 % change on previous year | 3.44 % change on previous year | 3.64 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 3.18 % change on previous year | 2.94 % change on previous year | 3.41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.72 % change on previous year | 1.58 % change on previous year | 3.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.39 % change on previous year | 0.6048 % change on previous year | 1.88 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4794 % change on previous year | -0.4526 % change on previous year | 1.51 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7299 % change on previous year | 0.5692 % change on previous year | 2.06 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.38 % change on previous year | 0.566 % change on previous year | 1.56 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.26 % change on previous year | 1.21 % change on previous year | 1.37 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 53 Namibia 1.24 % change on previous year compare
- 54 Somalia 1.22 % change on previous year compare
- 55 Zimbabwe 1.21 % change on previous year compare
- 57 Central African Republic 1.17 % change on previous year compare
- 58 Sudan 1.15 % change on previous year compare
- 59 Benin 1.12 % change on previous year 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 long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone?
- Long term urban population region, annual growth rate in Sierra Leone was 1.21 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest long term urban population region, annual growth rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 3.67 % change on previous year in 1974.
- What is the lowest long term urban population region, annual growth rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4526 % change on previous year in 1996.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for long term urban population region, annual growth rate?
- Sierra Leone ranks 56th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is long term urban population region, annual growth rate rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Long term urban population region, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Long term urban population region. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Long term urban population region Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Long term urban population region. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.