Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 0 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone, 1969–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone is 0, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 48 years on record.
That represents a change of down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone peaked at 125,830 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2022.
That places Sierra Leone 170th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 500 | — |
| 1976 | 170 | -66.0% |
| 1977 | 150 | -11.8% |
| 1978 | 50 | -66.7% |
| 1979 | 60 | +20.0% |
| 1982 | 120 | +100.0% |
| 1983 | 150 | +25.0% |
| 1984 | 180 | +20.0% |
| 1985 | 160 | -11.1% |
| 1986 | 170 | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 90 | -47.1% |
| 1988 | 60 | -33.3% |
| 1990 | 125,830 | +209616.7% |
| 1991 | 28,036 | -77.7% |
| 1992 | 5,866 | -79.1% |
| 1993 | 16,274 | +177.4% |
| 1994 | 15,866 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 4,677 | -70.5% |
| 1996 | 13,536 | +189.4% |
| 1997 | 13,015 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 9,862 | -24.2% |
| 1999 | 6,566 | -33.4% |
| 2000 | 6,543 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 10,498 | +60.4% |
| 2002 | 63,491 | +504.8% |
| 2003 | 61,192 | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 65,433 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 59,962 | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 27,364 | -54.4% |
| 2007 | 8,794 | -67.9% |
| 2008 | 7,825 | -11.0% |
| 2009 | 9,050 | +15.7% |
| 2010 | 8,362 | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 8,091 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 4,203 | -48.1% |
| 2013 | 2,816 | -33.0% |
| 2014 | 1,371 | -51.3% |
| 2015 | 760 | -44.6% |
| 2016 | 683 | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 678 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 591 | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 441 | -25.4% |
| 2020 | 342 | -22.4% |
| 2021 | 345 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2023 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | — |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 0 is below the median for low income countries, which is 45,052. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 0 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +209616.7% | 60 | 125,830 |
| 2002 | +504.8% | 10,498 | 63,491 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 500 | 500 | 500 | 1 |
| 1970s | 107.5 | 50 | 170 | 4 |
| 1980s | 132.86 | 60 | 180 | 7 |
| 1990s | 23,953 | 4,677 | 125,830 | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,015 | 6,543 | 65,433 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,800 | 441 | 8,362 | 10 |
| 2020s | 114.5 | 0 | 345 | 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)
- Population growth rate -0.137 (2100)
- Population density 220.76 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 983,692 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sierra Leone was 0 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 125,830 in 1990.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2022.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Sierra Leone ranks 170th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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