Urban and rural population in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Urban and rural population was 4.05 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.05 million
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
115th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.05 million
in 2025
All-time low
248,590
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Sierra Leone, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Sierra Leone stood at 4.05 million. 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, urban and rural population in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.05 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 248,590, 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.
Urban and rural population in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 248,590 | — |
| 1951 | 260,908 | +5.0% |
| 1952 | 273,680 | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 286,825 | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 300,468 | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 314,750 | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 329,640 | +4.7% |
| 1957 | 345,137 | +4.7% |
| 1958 | 361,109 | +4.6% |
| 1959 | 377,769 | +4.6% |
| 1960 | 395,403 | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 413,942 | +4.7% |
| 1962 | 433,345 | +4.7% |
| 1963 | 453,778 | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 476,474 | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 502,156 | +5.4% |
| 1966 | 530,347 | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 560,751 | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 592,944 | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 626,379 | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 660,725 | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 695,258 | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 729,518 | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 763,272 | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 795,657 | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 826,919 | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 857,791 | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 889,319 | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 921,862 | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 954,884 | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 988,597 | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 1.02 million | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 1.06 million | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 1.13 million | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 1.17 million | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 1.21 million | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 1.25 million | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 1.30 million | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 1.34 million | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 1.40 million | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 1.43 million | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 1.41 million | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 1.42 million | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 1.43 million | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.44 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 1.46 million | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 1.48 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 1.51 million | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 1.52 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 1.57 million | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.68 million | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 1.79 million | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 1.88 million | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.96 million | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 2.03 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 2.09 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.16 million | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 2.23 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 2.32 million | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 2.40 million | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 2.49 million | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 2.59 million | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 2.68 million | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 2.77 million | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 2.87 million | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 2.97 million | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 3.08 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 3.19 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 3.30 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 3.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 3.54 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 3.66 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 3.79 million | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 3.92 million | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 4.05 million | +3.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 4.05 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 58% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 4.05 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 309,888 | 248,590 | 377,769 | 10 |
| 1960s | 498,552 | 395,403 | 626,379 | 10 |
| 1970s | 809,520 | 660,725 | 954,884 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.16 million | 988,597 | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.45 million | 1.40 million | 1.52 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.97 million | 1.57 million | 2.32 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.83 million | 2.40 million | 3.30 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.73 million | 3.42 million | 4.05 million | 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 urban and rural population in Sierra Leone?
- Urban and rural population in Sierra Leone was 4.05 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.05 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 248,590 in 1950.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for urban and rural population?
- Sierra Leone ranks 115th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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