Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Sierra Leone, 1970–2024
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 50th out of 215 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.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.9% | — |
| 1971 | 1.9% | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 1.8% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 1.8% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 1.8% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 1.8% | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 1.9% | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 2.0% | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 2.0% | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 2.0% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | +10.3% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +9.8% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 2.5% | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | +58.4% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | -70.4% |
| 1992 | -1.9% | -262.2% |
| 1993 | -0.2% | -88.3% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -272.8% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -62.1% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | +228.7% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | +169.7% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | -23.7% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -47.5% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | +367.4% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +144.5% |
| 2002 | 5.8% | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -29.5% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | -16.8% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -20.4% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -18.0% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | -3.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 82% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 | +367.4% | 0.5% | 2.4% |
| 1994 | +272.8% | -0.2% | 0.4% |
| 1992 | -262.2% | 1.2% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | +228.7% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 1997 | +169.7% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| 2001 | +144.5% | 2.4% | 5.9% |
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 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 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 50th out of 215 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 · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release