Population growth in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population growth was 2.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Sierra Leone, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 2.0% for population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, -1.9%, in 1992.
Sierra Leone ranks 47th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | -1.9% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.2% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Population, total 8.82 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.3% (2025)
- Urban population 4.05 million (2025)
- Urban population 45.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 15.7% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.2122 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.1% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 12.6% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 5.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 1.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Sierra Leone?
- Population growth in Sierra Leone was 2.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.9% in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population growth?
- Sierra Leone ranks 47th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.