Population in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population was 8.46 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
8.46 million people
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
102nd
of 239 countries
All-time high
8.46 million people
in 2023
All-time low
3,923 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Sierra Leone, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Sierra Leone stood at 8.46 million people. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Sierra Leone peaked at 8.46 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,923 people, in 1000.
That places Sierra Leone 102nd out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 3,923 people | — |
| 1100 | 4,359 people | +11.1% |
| 1200 | 4,843 people | +11.1% |
| 1300 | 5,382 people | +11.1% |
| 1400 | 5,980 people | +11.1% |
| 1500 | 6,644 people | +11.1% |
| 1600 | 7,382 people | +11.1% |
| 1700 | 8,203 people | +11.1% |
| 1710 | 9,114 people | +11.1% |
| 1720 | 10,127 people | +11.1% |
| 1730 | 11,252 people | +11.1% |
| 1740 | 12,502 people | +11.1% |
| 1750 | 13,891 people | +11.1% |
| 1760 | 15,435 people | +11.1% |
| 1770 | 17,150 people | +11.1% |
| 1780 | 19,056 people | +11.1% |
| 1790 | 21,173 people | +11.1% |
| 1800 | 794,264 people | +3651.3% |
| 1801 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 794,264 people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 794,159 people | -0.0% |
| 1820 | 793,950 people | -0.0% |
| 1821 | 793,636 people | -0.0% |
| 1822 | 793,218 people | -0.1% |
| 1823 | 792,696 people | -0.1% |
| 1824 | 792,174 people | -0.1% |
| 1825 | 791,652 people | -0.1% |
| 1826 | 791,130 people | -0.1% |
| 1827 | 790,609 people | -0.1% |
| 1828 | 790,088 people | -0.1% |
| 1829 | 789,568 people | -0.1% |
| 1830 | 789,048 people | -0.1% |
| 1831 | 788,528 people | -0.1% |
| 1832 | 788,008 people | -0.1% |
| 1833 | 787,489 people | -0.1% |
| 1834 | 786,971 people | -0.1% |
| 1835 | 786,452 people | -0.1% |
| 1836 | 785,934 people | -0.1% |
| 1837 | 785,416 people | -0.1% |
| 1838 | 784,899 people | -0.1% |
| 1839 | 784,382 people | -0.1% |
| 1840 | 783,865 people | -0.1% |
| 1841 | 783,349 people | -0.1% |
| 1842 | 782,833 people | -0.1% |
| 1843 | 782,317 people | -0.1% |
| 1844 | 781,802 people | -0.1% |
| 1845 | 781,287 people | -0.1% |
| 1846 | 780,772 people | -0.1% |
| 1847 | 780,258 people | -0.1% |
| 1848 | 779,744 people | -0.1% |
| 1849 | 780,112 people | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 781,365 people | +0.2% |
| 1851 | 783,867 people | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 787,265 people | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 791,564 people | +0.5% |
| 1854 | 795,887 people | +0.5% |
| 1855 | 800,233 people | +0.5% |
| 1856 | 804,603 people | +0.5% |
| 1857 | 808,996 people | +0.5% |
| 1858 | 813,413 people | +0.5% |
| 1859 | 818,018 people | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 822,814 people | +0.6% |
| 1861 | 827,803 people | +0.6% |
| 1862 | 832,986 people | +0.6% |
| 1863 | 838,367 people | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 843,782 people | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 849,232 people | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 854,717 people | +0.6% |
| 1867 | 860,237 people | +0.6% |
| 1868 | 865,793 people | +0.6% |
| 1869 | 871,560 people | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 877,540 people | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 883,737 people | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 890,154 people | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 896,792 people | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 903,480 people | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 910,217 people | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 917,005 people | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 923,843 people | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 930,732 people | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 937,672 people | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 944,663 people | +0.7% |
| 1881 | 951,707 people | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 958,803 people | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 965,951 people | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 973,153 people | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 980,408 people | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 987,717 people | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 995,080 people | +0.7% |
| 1888 | 1.00 million people | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 1.01 million people | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 1.02 million people | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 1.03 million people | +0.7% |
| 1892 | 1.03 million people | +0.7% |
| 1893 | 1.04 million people | +0.7% |
| 1894 | 1.05 million people | +0.7% |
| 1895 | 1.06 million people | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 1.06 million people | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 1.07 million people | +0.7% |
| 1898 | 1.08 million people | +0.7% |
| 1899 | 1.09 million people | +0.7% |
| 1900 | 1.10 million people | +0.7% |
| 1901 | 1.10 million people | +0.7% |
| 1902 | 1.11 million people | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 1.12 million people | +0.7% |
| 1904 | 1.13 million people | +0.7% |
| 1905 | 1.14 million people | +0.7% |
| 1906 | 1.15 million people | +0.7% |
| 1907 | 1.15 million people | +0.7% |
| 1908 | 1.16 million people | +0.7% |
| 1909 | 1.17 million people | +0.7% |
| 1910 | 1.18 million people | +0.7% |
| 1911 | 1.19 million people | +0.7% |
| 1912 | 1.20 million people | +0.7% |
| 1913 | 1.20 million people | +0.6% |
| 1914 | 1.21 million people | +0.6% |
| 1915 | 1.22 million people | +0.6% |
| 1916 | 1.23 million people | +0.6% |
| 1917 | 1.23 million people | +0.6% |
| 1918 | 1.24 million people | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 1.25 million people | +0.8% |
| 1920 | 1.26 million people | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 1.28 million people | +1.1% |
| 1922 | 1.30 million people | +1.3% |
| 1923 | 1.31 million people | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 1.33 million people | +1.5% |
| 1925 | 1.35 million people | +1.5% |
| 1926 | 1.37 million people | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 1.40 million people | +1.5% |
| 1928 | 1.42 million people | +1.5% |
| 1929 | 1.44 million people | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 1.46 million people | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 1.48 million people | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 1.50 million people | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 1.52 million people | +1.4% |
| 1934 | 1.54 million people | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 1.56 million people | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 1.59 million people | +1.4% |
| 1937 | 1.61 million people | +1.4% |
| 1938 | 1.63 million people | +1.4% |
| 1939 | 1.65 million people | +1.5% |
| 1940 | 1.68 million people | +1.6% |
| 1941 | 1.71 million people | +1.6% |
| 1942 | 1.74 million people | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 1.77 million people | +1.8% |
| 1944 | 1.80 million people | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 1.83 million people | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 1.87 million people | +1.8% |
| 1947 | 1.90 million people | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 1.93 million people | +1.8% |
| 1949 | 1.97 million people | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 2.00 million people | +1.6% |
| 1951 | 2.02 million people | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 2.05 million people | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 2.07 million people | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 2.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 2.12 million people | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 2.15 million people | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 2.18 million people | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 2.20 million people | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 2.24 million people | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 2.27 million people | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 2.30 million people | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 2.34 million people | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 2.38 million people | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 2.42 million people | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 2.47 million people | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 2.51 million people | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 2.56 million people | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 2.61 million people | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 2.66 million people | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 2.71 million people | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 2.76 million people | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 2.81 million people | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 2.87 million people | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 2.92 million people | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 2.97 million people | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 3.03 million people | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 3.09 million people | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 3.15 million people | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 3.21 million people | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 3.27 million people | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 3.34 million people | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 3.41 million people | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 3.48 million people | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 3.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 3.64 million people | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 3.73 million people | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 3.83 million people | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 3.93 million people | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 4.03 million people | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 4.20 million people | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 4.25 million people | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 4.17 million people | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 4.16 million people | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.17 million people | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 4.18 million people | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 4.20 million people | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 4.25 million people | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 4.30 million people | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 4.32 million people | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 4.42 million people | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 4.69 million people | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 4.97 million people | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 5.18 million people | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 5.36 million people | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 5.50 million people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 5.62 million people | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 5.75 million people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 5.89 million people | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 6.06 million people | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 6.22 million people | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 6.39 million people | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 6.55 million people | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 6.71 million people | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 6.88 million people | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 7.04 million people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 7.21 million people | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 7.38 million people | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 7.55 million people | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 7.73 million people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 7.91 million people | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 8.09 million people | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 8.28 million people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 8.46 million people | +2.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 8.46 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 37% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 8.46 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 59% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +3651.3% | 21,173 people | 794,264 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 3,923 people | 3,923 people | 3,923 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 4,359 people | 4,359 people | 4,359 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 4,843 people | 4,843 people | 4,843 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 5,382 people | 5,382 people | 5,382 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 5,980 people | 5,980 people | 5,980 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 6,644 people | 6,644 people | 6,644 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 7,382 people | 7,382 people | 7,382 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 8,203 people | 8,203 people | 8,203 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 9,114 people | 9,114 people | 9,114 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 10,127 people | 10,127 people | 10,127 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 11,252 people | 11,252 people | 11,252 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 12,502 people | 12,502 people | 12,502 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 13,891 people | 13,891 people | 13,891 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 15,435 people | 15,435 people | 15,435 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 17,150 people | 17,150 people | 17,150 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 19,056 people | 19,056 people | 19,056 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 21,173 people | 21,173 people | 21,173 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 794,264 people | 794,264 people | 794,264 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 794,254 people | 794,159 people | 794,264 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 791,872 people | 789,568 people | 793,950 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 786,713 people | 784,382 people | 789,048 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 781,634 people | 779,744 people | 783,865 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 798,521 people | 781,365 people | 818,018 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 846,729 people | 822,814 people | 871,560 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 907,117 people | 877,540 people | 937,672 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 976,995 people | 944,663 people | 1.01 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.05 million people | 1.02 million people | 1.09 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.13 million people | 1.10 million people | 1.17 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.22 million people | 1.18 million people | 1.25 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.35 million people | 1.26 million people | 1.44 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.55 million people | 1.46 million people | 1.65 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.82 million people | 1.68 million people | 1.97 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.11 million people | 2.00 million people | 2.24 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.45 million people | 2.27 million people | 2.66 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.95 million people | 2.71 million people | 3.21 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.62 million people | 3.27 million people | 4.03 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.22 million people | 4.16 million people | 4.32 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.34 million people | 4.42 million people | 6.06 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.97 million people | 6.22 million people | 7.73 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.19 million people | 7.91 million people | 8.46 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 983,692 people (2100)
- Population density 220.76 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Sierra Leone?
- Population in Sierra Leone was 8.46 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 8.46 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,923 people in 1000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population?
- Sierra Leone ranks 102nd out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.