Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 284.77 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
284.77 thousands
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
133rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
284.77 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
110.75 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Sierra Leone, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 65 years or older in Sierra Leone is 284.77 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Sierra Leone peaked at 284.77 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 110.75 thousands, in 1970.
Sierra Leone ranks 133rd of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 110.75 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 113.26 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 115.66 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 118.05 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 120.41 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 122.7 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 124.97 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 127.16 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 129.51 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 131.85 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 134.21 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 136.65 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 139.05 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 141.5 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 144.05 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 146.58 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 149.11 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 152.25 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 155.46 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 158.66 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 161.25 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 169.19 thousands | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 162.45 thousands | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 159.97 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 158.71 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 157.87 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 155.57 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 155.82 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 156.2 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 155.24 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 154 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 159.12 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 169.59 thousands | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 175.37 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 180.64 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 184.38 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 187.41 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 189.74 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 193.15 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 197.15 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 202.08 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 206.66 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 211.04 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 215.47 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 218.07 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 219.99 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 223.98 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 228.61 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 233.66 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 239.25 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 245.57 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 251.49 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 258.73 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 266.91 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 275.7 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 284.77 thousands | +3.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 284.77 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 589.35 thousands, 48% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 284.77 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 448.46 thousands, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 121.43 thousands | 110.75 thousands | 131.85 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 145.75 thousands | 134.21 thousands | 158.66 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 159.23 thousands | 155.24 thousands | 169.19 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 179.06 thousands | 154 thousands | 197.15 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 219.88 thousands | 202.08 thousands | 239.25 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 263.86 thousands | 245.57 thousands | 284.77 thousands | 6 |
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 population aged 65 years or older in Sierra Leone?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Sierra Leone was 284.77 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 284.77 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 110.75 thousands in 1970.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Sierra Leone ranks 133rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release