Population (International Monetary) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population (International Monetary) was 8.64 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
8.64 million
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
99th
of 186 countries
All-time high
8.64 million
in 2024
All-time low
2.27 million
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Population in Sierra Leone, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Sierra Leone is 8.64 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Sierra Leone peaked at 8.64 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.27 million, in 1960.
Sierra Leone ranks 99th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Population (International Monetary) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.27 million | — |
| 1961 | 2.30 million | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 2.34 million | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 2.38 million | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 2.42 million | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 2.47 million | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 2.51 million | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 2.56 million | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 2.61 million | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 2.66 million | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 2.71 million | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 2.76 million | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 2.81 million | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 2.87 million | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 2.92 million | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 2.97 million | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 3.03 million | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 3.09 million | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 3.15 million | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 3.21 million | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 3.27 million | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 3.34 million | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 3.41 million | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 3.48 million | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 3.56 million | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 3.64 million | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 3.73 million | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 3.83 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 3.93 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 4.03 million | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 4.20 million | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 4.25 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 4.17 million | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 4.16 million | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.17 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 4.18 million | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 4.20 million | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 4.25 million | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 4.30 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 4.32 million | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 4.42 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 4.69 million | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 4.97 million | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 5.18 million | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 5.36 million | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 5.50 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 5.62 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 5.75 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 5.89 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 6.06 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 6.22 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 6.39 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 6.55 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 6.71 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 6.88 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 7.04 million | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 7.21 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 7.38 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 7.55 million | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 7.73 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 7.91 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 8.09 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 8.28 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 8.46 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 8.64 million | +2.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 8.64 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 22.60 million, 38% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 8.64 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.61 million, 59% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.45 million | 2.27 million | 2.66 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.95 million | 2.71 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.62 million | 3.27 million | 4.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.22 million | 4.16 million | 4.32 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.34 million | 4.42 million | 6.06 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.97 million | 6.22 million | 7.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.28 million | 7.91 million | 8.64 million | 5 |
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 population in Sierra Leone?
- Population in Sierra Leone was 8.64 million in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 8.64 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.27 million in 1960.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population?
- Sierra Leone ranks 99th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Data on Gender-disaggregated on selected population characteristics.