Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 4.05 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone stood at 4.05 million people. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.05 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 248,590 people, in 1950.
That places Sierra Leone 115th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 309,888 people | 248,590 people | 377,769 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 498,552 people | 395,403 people | 626,379 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 809,520 people | 660,725 people | 954,884 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.16 million people | 988,597 people | 1.34 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.45 million people | 1.40 million people | 1.52 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.97 million people | 1.57 million people | 2.32 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.83 million people | 2.40 million people | 3.30 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.73 million people | 3.42 million people | 4.05 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More population data for Sierra Leone
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.7 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.7 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 0 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.7 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.79 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.31 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone was 4.05 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.05 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 248,590 people in 1950.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Sierra Leone ranks 115th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.