What is the population of Sierra Leone in 2026?
Sierra Leone has a population of 8,819,794 people (2025 estimate), which is 101st in the world and about 0.11% of the global total.
Officially Republic of Sierra Leone
Population 2025
8,819,794
0.11% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+2.04%
+179,571 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
117/km²
72,180 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
19.7 years
Life expectancy 62.0 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Sierra Leone
With a population of 8.8 million, Sierra Leone ranks 100th globally and spans 72,180 km² across West Africa, bordered by Guinea and Liberia. The median age of 19.7 years indicates a predominantly young population, while the annual growth rate of 2% reflects continued demographic expansion. Urban areas account for 46% of inhabitants, with the capital, Freetown, serving as the country's largest city.
Life expectancy stands at 62 years, and the fertility rate of 3.7 births per woman is relatively high. GDP per capita of $846 places the country among lower-income nations. Sierra Leone operates as a presidential republic, having gained independence in 1971, and uses English as its official language with the Sierra Leonean leone as its currency.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Freetown
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- SL · SLE
- Demonym
- Sierra Leonean
- Currency
- Sierra Leonean leone (SLL Le)
- Government
- Presidential system
- State inception
- 1971
- Time zone
- UTC±00:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +232
- Internet TLD
- .sl
- Land neighbours
- 2
Languages
- English
Demographics
Economy
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 38.1%
- Age 15–64
- 58.7%
- Age 65+
- 3.2%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 3 | 8 |
| 95-99 | 58 | 127 |
| 90-94 | 543 | 976 |
| 85-89 | 2,908 | 4,492 |
| 80-84 | 9,444 | 13,272 |
| 75-79 | 20,364 | 26,977 |
| 70-74 | 34,946 | 44,020 |
| 65-69 | 55,894 | 66,203 |
| 60-64 | 80,818 | 90,671 |
| 55-59 | 107,886 | 116,148 |
| 50-54 | 137,107 | 143,337 |
| 45-49 | 172,036 | 175,784 |
| 40-44 | 211,811 | 212,107 |
| 35-39 | 256,113 | 254,822 |
| 30-34 | 303,906 | 302,654 |
| 25-29 | 360,568 | 360,539 |
| 20-24 | 423,673 | 418,325 |
| 15-19 | 473,889 | 467,957 |
| 10-14 | 519,433 | 513,664 |
| 5-9 | 546,538 | 539,104 |
| 0-4 | 592,032 | 580,865 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,999,623 |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 |
| 2030 | 9,694,858 |
| 2040 | 11,398,400 |
| 2050 | 12,948,325 |
| 2060 | 14,219,379 |
| 2070 | 15,177,973 |
| 2080 | 15,751,833 |
| 2090 | 15,996,608 |
| 2100 | 15,934,256 |
How Sierra Leone Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- Sierra Leone8.82M
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Sierra Leone | 8.82M |
Countries Bordering Sierra Leone
2 land borders.
Sierra Leone Population FAQ
Is the population of Sierra Leone growing or shrinking?
Sierra Leone's population is growing at +2.04% per year, a change of roughly 179,571 people annually.
What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown.
How densely populated is Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has 117/km² across 72,180 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Sierra Leone?
Life expectancy at birth in Sierra Leone is 62.0 years (2024).
What is the median age in Sierra Leone?
The median age in Sierra Leone is 19.7 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Sierra Leone in?
Sierra Leone is in Africa.