Sierra Leone Population

Population now

8,898,796

World: 100th
Africa: 33rd

Male:	4,446,950	(49.98 %)
Female:	4,451,846	(50.02 %)

Births in 2026:	145,731
Deaths in 2026:	50,708

Life expectancy & Rates (2026)

Male:	56.18 years
Female:	58.09 years
Total:	57.15 years
Median Age:	19.54 years

Birth Rate:	29.40
Death Rate:	10.23
Growth Rate:	1.87 %
Fertility Rate:	3.58

Population Data Graphs

Total population
Birth & Death rate
Life expectancy
Median Age
Population structure (mid 2026)
Urbanization

Sierra Leone Population History

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main data
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Year	Total	Male	Female	Sex Ratio	Growth rate	Birth rate	Death rate	Fertility rate	Life exp., total Life expectancy	Life exp., male	Life exp., female	Median Age	Urbanization	Density, people / km2 Density, people/km2
1960	2M	1M	1M	0.96	0.45%	46.93	32.30	6.13	31.57	30.49	32.65	20.00	17.35%	32.31
1961	2M	1M	1M	0.96	0.47%	47.14	32.05	6.17	31.93	30.87	32.99	19.90	17.90%	32.79
1962	2M	1M	1M	0.96	0.49%	47.33	31.79	6.22	32.30	31.27	33.35	19.85	18.47%	33.30
1963	2M	1M	1M	0.96	0.51%	47.50	31.49	6.26	32.71	31.69	33.73	19.84	19.06%	33.83
1964	2M	1M	1M	0.96	0.53%	47.62	31.16	6.30	33.13	32.14	34.14	19.84	19.71%	34.38
1965	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.55%	47.70	30.78	6.34	33.59	32.61	34.58	19.84	20.38%	34.96
1966	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.57%	47.73	30.37	6.37	34.07	33.10	35.05	19.69	21.06%	35.57
1967	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.60%	47.74	29.92	6.40	34.57	33.60	35.55	19.59	21.77%	36.20
1968	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.62%	47.74	29.47	6.43	35.08	34.09	36.07	19.50	22.48%	36.86
1969	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.65%	47.73	29.01	6.47	35.59	34.58	36.60	19.42	23.22%	37.54
1970	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.67%	47.71	28.55	6.50	36.10	35.07	37.13	19.34	23.97%	38.26
1971	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.70%	47.68	28.09	6.52	36.60	35.56	37.65	19.12	24.74%	39.01
1972	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.72%	47.64	27.64	6.55	37.09	36.04	38.15	18.93	25.52%	39.79
1973	3M	1M	1M	0.96	0.75%	47.59	27.19	6.57	37.57	36.53	38.63	18.77	26.32%	40.61
1974	3M	1M	2M	0.96	0.78%	47.54	26.77	6.59	38.03	37.00	39.07	18.63	27.14%	41.46
1975	3M	1M	2M	0.96	0.80%	47.49	26.37	6.61	38.47	37.47	39.48	18.52	27.73%	42.34
1976	3M	2M	2M	0.97	0.83%	47.45	25.99	6.63	38.88	37.91	39.86	18.31	28.14%	43.25
1977	3M	2M	2M	0.97	0.85%	47.44	25.64	6.64	39.27	38.33	40.21	18.15	28.55%	44.19
1978	3M	2M	2M	0.97	0.87%	47.45	25.31	6.66	39.62	38.71	40.54	18.03	28.97%	45.17
1979	3M	2M	2M	0.97	0.90%	47.48	25.03	6.68	39.94	39.04	40.84	17.93	29.39%	46.19
1980	3M	2M	2M	0.97	0.92%	47.51	24.78	6.69	40.19	39.32	41.08	17.85	29.82%	47.23
1981	3M	2M	2M	0.97	0.93%	47.53	24.59	6.70	40.39	39.52	41.26	17.69	30.25%	48.29
1982	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.94%	47.53	24.44	6.72	40.50	39.65	41.36	17.56	30.68%	49.35
1983	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.95%	47.49	24.35	6.72	40.55	39.72	41.38	17.46	31.12%	50.46
1984	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.95%	47.42	24.31	6.73	40.51	39.71	41.31	17.39	31.56%	51.68
1985	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.94%	47.30	24.34	6.73	40.38	39.61	41.15	17.33	32.00%	53.04
1986	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.93%	47.17	24.44	6.73	40.15	39.43	40.87	17.19	32.33%	54.60
1987	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.91%	47.02	24.61	6.73	39.83	39.16	40.50	17.08	32.56%	56.29
1988	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.89%	46.86	24.84	6.73	39.44	38.82	40.07	17.01	32.79%	57.94
1989	4M	2M	2M	0.97	0.86%	46.71	25.11	6.73	39.01	38.44	39.59	16.97	33.02%	59.30
1990	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.83%	46.56	25.39	6.72	38.56	38.03	39.10	16.99	33.25%	60.21
1991	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.81%	46.39	25.66	6.71	38.12	37.63	38.62	16.90	33.49%	60.62
1992	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.78%	46.21	25.90	6.70	37.72	37.26	38.19	16.82	33.72%	60.60
1993	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.76%	46.01	26.08	6.67	37.38	36.95	37.83	16.78	33.96%	60.34
1994	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.75%	45.77	26.16	6.65	37.16	36.73	37.59	16.76	34.19%	60.07
1995	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.74%	45.52	26.11	6.61	37.08	36.66	37.51	16.74	34.43%	59.99
1996	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.75%	45.25	25.91	6.56	37.19	36.76	37.63	16.69	34.67%	60.12
1997	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.76%	44.97	25.54	6.51	37.50	37.03	37.95	16.69	34.91%	60.43
1998	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.79%	44.68	25.02	6.46	37.98	37.48	38.47	16.71	35.14%	61.07
1999	4M	2M	2M	0.98	0.82%	44.38	24.37	6.39	38.63	38.10	39.16	16.72	35.38%	62.20
2000	5M	2M	2M	0.98	0.87%	44.07	23.59	6.32	39.44	38.86	40.01	16.70	35.63%	63.91
2001	5M	2M	2M	0.98	0.92%	43.75	22.74	6.24	40.37	39.75	40.98	16.70	35.87%	66.27
2002	5M	2M	3M	0.99	0.99%	43.40	21.83	6.16	41.38	40.71	42.02	16.72	36.11%	69.22
2003	5M	3M	3M	0.99	1.06%	43.02	20.91	6.07	42.42	41.71	43.10	16.75	36.35%	72.50
2004	5M	3M	3M	0.99	1.13%	42.60	20.01	5.97	43.47	42.73	44.18	16.80	36.60%	75.75
2005	6M	3M	3M	0.99	1.20%	42.13	19.15	5.86	44.50	43.73	45.25	16.88	36.92%	78.70
2006	6M	3M	3M	0.99	1.27%	41.57	18.31	5.75	45.52	44.72	46.29	16.90	37.30%	81.26
2007	6M	3M	3M	0.99	1.34%	40.94	17.50	5.62	46.52	45.70	47.31	16.95	37.69%	83.49
2008	6M	3M	3M	0.99	1.41%	40.24	16.72	5.49	47.51	46.66	48.32	17.01	38.08%	85.50
2009	6M	3M	3M	0.99	1.47%	39.47	15.96	5.35	48.47	47.60	49.30	17.10	38.47%	87.44
2010	6M	3M	3M	0.99	1.54%	38.68	15.25	5.20	49.38	48.50	50.23	17.21	38.86%	89.43
2011	7M	3M	3M	0.99	1.59%	37.87	14.60	5.06	50.23	49.34	51.09	17.28	39.25%	91.49
2012	7M	3M	3M	0.99	1.65%	37.09	14.01	4.92	51.02	50.12	51.88	17.37	39.64%	93.57
2013	7M	3M	3M	0.99	1.70%	36.36	13.48	4.79	51.73	50.83	52.59	17.49	40.04%	95.68
2014	7M	3M	4M	0.99	1.74%	35.68	13.03	4.67	52.37	51.49	53.22	17.61	40.43%	97.81
2015	7M	4M	4M	0.99	1.78%	35.06	12.63	4.56	52.94	52.07	53.77	17.74	40.83%	99.97
2016	7M	4M	4M	0.99	1.81%	34.48	12.29	4.46	53.44	52.59	54.26	17.86	41.23%	102.16
2017	7M	4M	4M	0.99	1.83%	33.94	12.00	4.36	53.90	53.05	54.70	17.98	41.64%	104.38
2018	8M	4M	4M	1	1.84%	33.41	11.75	4.26	54.31	53.47	55.11	18.11	42.06%	106.64
2019	8M	4M	4M	1	1.86%	32.88	11.51	4.17	54.70	53.85	55.50	18.25	42.48%	108.91
2020	8M	4M	4M	1	1.86%	32.35	11.30	4.08	55.07	54.21	55.88	18.40	42.92%	111.19
2021	8M	4M	4M	1	1.86%	32.35	11.30	4.08	55.07	54.21	55.88	18.55	43.37%	113.48
2022	8M	4M	4M	1	1.86%	32.35	11.30	4.08	55.07	54.21	55.88	18.71	43.83%	115.78
2023	8M	4M	4M	1	1.87%	30.84	10.75	3.82	56.11	55.20	56.99	18.89	44.30%	118.09
2024	9M	4M	4M	1	1.87%	30.34	10.56	3.74	56.46	55.53	57.36	19.09	44.78%	120.42
2025	9M	4M	4M	1	1.87%	29.84	10.38	3.65	56.81	55.86	57.73	19.30	45.27%	122.75
2026	9M	4M	4M	1	1.87%	29.40	10.23	3.58	57.15	56.18	58.09	19.54	45.77%	125.09

Sierra Leone Population Projections

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main data
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Year	Total	Male	Female	Sex Ratio	Growth rate	Birth rate	Death rate	Fertility rate	Life exp., total Life expectancy	Life exp., male	Life exp., female	Median Age	Urbanization	Density, people / km2 Density, people/km2
2027	9M	5M	5M	1	1.87%	28.95	10.09	3.51	57.49	56.51	58.45	19.77	46.27%	127.43
2028	9M	5M	5M	1	1.87%	28.51	9.94	3.44	57.84	56.83	58.82	20.01	46.79%	129.77
2029	9M	5M	5M	1	1.86%	28.06	9.80	3.37	58.18	57.16	59.18	20.25	47.32%	132.13
2030	10M	5M	5M	1	1.86%	27.62	9.65	3.30	58.52	57.48	59.54	20.48	47.85%	134.50
2031	10M	5M	5M	1	1.85%	27.22	9.54	3.24	58.84	57.78	59.88	20.71	48.39%	136.86
2032	10M	5M	5M	1	1.84%	26.82	9.44	3.19	59.16	58.08	60.22	20.96	48.94%	139.22
2033	10M	5M	5M	1	1.83%	26.43	9.33	3.13	59.48	58.39	60.56	21.18	49.50%	141.59
2034	10M	5M	5M	1	1.82%	26.03	9.23	3.08	59.80	58.69	60.90	21.43	50.07%	143.96
2035	10M	5M	5M	1	1.81%	25.63	9.12	3.02	60.12	58.99	61.24	21.69	50.64%	146.33
2036	11M	5M	5M	1	1.79%	25.27	9.05	2.98	60.41	59.26	61.55	21.92	51.22%	148.69
2037	11M	5M	5M	1	1.77%	24.92	8.99	2.94	60.70	59.53	61.86	22.16	51.80%	151.05
2038	11M	6M	5M	1	1.75%	24.56	8.92	2.89	60.99	59.81	62.17	22.41	52.39%	153.39
2039	11M	6M	6M	1	1.73%	24.21	8.86	2.85	61.28	60.08	62.48	22.65	52.99%	155.73
2040	11M	6M	6M	1	1.71%	23.85	8.79	2.81	61.57	60.35	62.79	22.91	53.59%	158.06
2041	12M	6M	6M	1	1.68%	23.52	8.76	2.77	61.83	60.59	63.07	23.15	54.19%	160.37
2042	12M	6M	6M	1	1.66%	23.19	8.73	2.74	62.09	60.84	63.35	23.40	54.79%	162.68
2043	12M	6M	6M	1	1.63%	22.87	8.69	2.70	62.35	61.08	63.63	23.65	55.39%	164.97
2044	12M	6M	6M	1	1.60%	22.54	8.66	2.67	62.61	61.33	63.91	23.90	55.99%	167.26
2045	12M	6M	6M	1	1.57%	22.21	8.63	2.63	62.87	61.57	64.19	24.17	56.59%	169.51
2046	12M	6M	6M	1	1.54%	21.90	8.63	2.60	63.10	61.78	64.44	24.42	57.19%	171.75
2047	12M	6M	6M	1	1.50%	21.60	8.63	2.57	63.34	62.00	64.70	24.69	57.78%	173.96
2048	13M	6M	6M	1	1.47%	21.29	8.63	2.55	63.57	62.21	64.95	24.95	58.37%	176.15
2049	13M	6M	6M	1	1.43%	20.99	8.63	2.52	63.81	62.43	65.21	25.21	58.96%	178.31
2050	13M	6M	6M	1	1.40%	20.68	8.63	2.49	64.04	62.64	65.46	25.48	59.55%	180.44

Highest City Populations in Sierra Leone

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Rank	City	Population, Urban Area	Population, City
1	Freetown	1,255,885	802,639

Map of Sierra Leone

All Countries in Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo107M

South Africa63M

Burkina Faso25M

Sierra Leone9M

Republic of the Congo6M

Central African Republic5M

Guinea-Bissau2M

Equatorial Guinea2M

Sao Tome and Principe247k