Labor force, female in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Labor force, female was 1.43 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Sierra Leone, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Sierra Leone stood at 1.43 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.43 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 785,952, in 1993.
That places Sierra Leone 103rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 798,929 | — |
| 1991 | 806,595 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 789,566 | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 785,952 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 787,122 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 786,530 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 788,479 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 796,821 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 803,071 | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 806,067 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 824,547 | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 873,202 | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 923,785 | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 961,225 | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 1.01 million | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 1.03 million | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 1.04 million | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 1.04 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 1.06 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 1.07 million | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.08 million | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 1.10 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 1.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 1.14 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 1.14 million | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 1.15 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 1.16 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.17 million | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 1.20 million | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 1.23 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 1.27 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 1.32 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 1.36 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 1.40 million | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 1.43 million | +2.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.43 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.70 million, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.43 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.51 million, 57% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 794,913 | 785,952 | 806,595 | 10 |
| 2000s | 982,626 | 824,547 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.14 million | 1.08 million | 1.20 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.33 million | 1.23 million | 1.43 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More gender data for Sierra Leone
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 3,446 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.722 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 6,249 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 6,249 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 122,158 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 124,999 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 118,334 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 120,652 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 116,120 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Sierra Leone?
- Labor force, female in Sierra Leone was 1.43 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.43 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 785,952 in 1993.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for labor force, female?
- Sierra Leone ranks 103rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.