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
Latest (2025)
4.05 million people
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
115th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.05 million people
in 2025
All-time low
248,590 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 248,590 people | — |
| 1951 | 260,908 people | +5.0% |
| 1952 | 273,680 people | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 286,825 people | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 300,468 people | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 314,750 people | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 329,640 people | +4.7% |
| 1957 | 345,137 people | +4.7% |
| 1958 | 361,109 people | +4.6% |
| 1959 | 377,769 people | +4.6% |
| 1960 | 395,403 people | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 413,942 people | +4.7% |
| 1962 | 433,345 people | +4.7% |
| 1963 | 453,778 people | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 476,474 people | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 502,156 people | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 530,347 people | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 560,751 people | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 592,944 people | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 626,379 people | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 660,725 people | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 695,258 people | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 729,518 people | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 763,272 people | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 795,657 people | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 826,919 people | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 857,791 people | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 889,319 people | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 921,862 people | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 954,884 people | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 988,597 people | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 1.02 million people | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 1.06 million people | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million people | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 1.13 million people | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 1.17 million people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 1.21 million people | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 1.25 million people | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 1.30 million people | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 1.34 million people | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 1.40 million people | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 1.43 million people | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 1.41 million people | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 1.42 million people | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 1.43 million people | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.44 million people | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 1.46 million people | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 1.48 million people | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 1.51 million people | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 1.52 million people | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 1.57 million people | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.68 million people | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 1.79 million people | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 1.88 million people | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.96 million people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 2.03 million people | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 2.09 million people | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.16 million people | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 2.23 million people | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 2.32 million people | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 2.40 million people | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 2.49 million people | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 2.59 million people | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 2.68 million people | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 2.77 million people | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 2.87 million people | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 2.97 million people | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 3.08 million people | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 3.19 million people | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 3.30 million people | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 3.42 million people | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 3.54 million people | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 3.66 million people | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 3.79 million people | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 3.92 million people | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 4.05 million people | +3.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 4.05 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 58% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 4.05 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.