Population in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population was 8.46 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
8.46 million people
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
101st
of 236 countries
All-time high
8.46 million people
in 2023
All-time low
2.00 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Sierra Leone, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Sierra Leone is 8.46 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of 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, 2.00 million people, in 1950.
That places Sierra Leone 101st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Population in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.00 million people | — |
| 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)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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 in Sierra Leone?
- Population in Sierra Leone was 8.46 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed 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 2.00 million people in 1950.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population?
- Sierra Leone ranks 101st out of 236 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 rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.