Population growth in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population growth was 2.1% in 2024. β Volatile
Population growth in Sierra Leone, 1970β2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in Sierra Leone stood at 2.1%.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, -1.9%, in 1992.
That places Sierra Leone 49th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | -1.9% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.2% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.137 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 983,692 (2100)
- Population density 220.76 (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.137 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 3.7 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 0 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 3.7 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 3.7 (2024)
- Natural population growth 2.23 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 3.79 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Sierra Leone?
- Population growth in Sierra Leone was 2.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.9% in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population growth?
- Sierra Leone ranks 49th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release