Population · Africa
Sierra Leone population 2026
Right now · estimate
Sierra Leone population right now
9,057,918
- Births today
- 0
- Deaths today
- 0
- Births this year
- 219,282
- Births minus deaths this year
- +158,483
Sierra Leone has an estimated 8,996,744 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 176,950 more than a year earlier (+2.01%). It is the 101st most populous country in the world. It is projected to keep growing until 2092, peaking at 16 million, then decline to 15.9 million by 2100.
UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.
Sierra Leone in numbers, 2026
- Births in 2026
- 261 thousand 715 a day
- Deaths in 2026
- 72 thousand 198 a day
- Net migration
- −12 thousand more departures than arrivals
- Growth rate
- +1.96% growing
- Fertility rate
- 3.53per woman above replacement (2.1)
- Median age
- 19.9years world: 31.1
- Life expectancy
- 62.3years
- Aged 65 and over
- 3.3% 5.5% by 2050
Land, people and health
- Capital
- Freetown
- Area
- 71,740 km² 120th largest of 237
- Population density
- 125per km² 101st most crowded
- Urban population
- 46.5% 63.7% by 2050
- Men and women
- 4.5 million / 4.5 million 99.5 men per 100 women
- Life expectancy, women
- 64.1years men: 60.6 years
- Infant mortality
- 68.1per 1,000 births under-5: 92.6
- Birth rate
- 29.0per 1,000 death rate: 8.1
- Net migration rate
- −1.4per 1,000 net departures
Population of Sierra Leone, 1950–2100
Projected peak: 2092, 16 million. By 2050: 12.9 million (+43.9% from today).
- UN estimate
- UN projection
15.9M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,999,623 |
| 1951 | 2,023,276 |
| 1952 | 2,047,200 |
| 1953 | 2,070,810 |
| 1954 | 2,095,066 |
| 1955 | 2,120,889 |
| 1956 | 2,147,979 |
| 1957 | 2,176,250 |
| 1958 | 2,204,839 |
| 1959 | 2,235,026 |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 |
| 1961 | 2,304,227 |
| 1962 | 2,342,242 |
| 1963 | 2,382,258 |
| 1964 | 2,424,390 |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 |
| 1966 | 2,514,638 |
| 1967 | 2,562,384 |
| 1968 | 2,611,532 |
| 1969 | 2,661,365 |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 |
| 1971 | 2,763,222 |
| 1972 | 2,814,388 |
| 1973 | 2,866,955 |
| 1974 | 2,920,459 |
| 1975 | 2,974,656 |
| 1976 | 3,028,820 |
| 1977 | 3,085,354 |
| 1978 | 3,145,517 |
| 1979 | 3,207,499 |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 |
| 1981 | 3,338,940 |
| 1982 | 3,408,183 |
| 1983 | 3,481,646 |
| 1984 | 3,558,758 |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 |
| 1986 | 3,728,380 |
| 1987 | 3,829,718 |
| 1988 | 3,934,518 |
| 1989 | 4,034,037 |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 |
| 1991 | 4,246,267 |
| 1992 | 4,166,366 |
| 1993 | 4,157,130 |
| 1994 | 4,173,105 |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 |
| 1996 | 4,199,210 |
| 1997 | 4,253,716 |
| 1998 | 4,295,785 |
| 1999 | 4,318,044 |
| 2000 | 4,423,612 |
| 2001 | 4,692,716 |
| 2002 | 4,971,434 |
| 2003 | 5,177,687 |
| 2004 | 5,355,717 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 |
| 2006 | 5,624,466 |
| 2007 | 5,749,352 |
| 2008 | 5,894,722 |
| 2009 | 6,055,646 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 |
| 2011 | 6,387,251 |
| 2012 | 6,551,080 |
| 2013 | 6,714,051 |
| 2014 | 6,876,385 |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 |
| 2022 | 8,276,806 |
| 2023 | 8,460,512 |
| 2024 * | 8,642,022 |
| 2025 * | 8,819,794 |
| 2026 * | 8,996,744 |
| 2027 * | 9,174,692 |
| 2028 * | 9,349,025 |
| 2029 * | 9,520,818 |
| 2030 * | 9,694,858 |
| 2031 * | 9,870,298 |
| 2032 * | 10,047,200 |
| 2033 * | 10,221,014 |
| 2034 * | 10,391,490 |
| 2035 * | 10,563,168 |
| 2036 * | 10,734,348 |
| 2037 * | 10,902,268 |
| 2038 * | 11,066,150 |
| 2039 * | 11,230,061 |
| 2040 * | 11,398,400 |
| 2041 * | 11,566,216 |
| 2042 * | 11,728,792 |
| 2043 * | 11,887,937 |
| 2044 * | 12,049,426 |
| 2045 * | 12,208,880 |
| 2046 * | 12,363,458 |
| 2047 * | 12,512,756 |
| 2048 * | 12,659,612 |
| 2049 * | 12,805,142 |
| 2050 * | 12,948,325 |
| 2051 * | 13,093,462 |
| 2052 * | 13,236,024 |
| 2053 * | 13,372,796 |
| 2054 * | 13,502,271 |
| 2055 * | 13,629,114 |
| 2056 * | 13,755,179 |
| 2057 * | 13,876,264 |
| 2058 * | 13,993,957 |
| 2059 * | 14,107,963 |
| 2060 * | 14,219,379 |
| 2061 * | 14,327,425 |
| 2062 * | 14,435,385 |
| 2063 * | 14,539,892 |
| 2064 * | 14,636,716 |
| 2065 * | 14,732,950 |
| 2066 * | 14,829,171 |
| 2067 * | 14,924,590 |
| 2068 * | 15,015,899 |
| 2069 * | 15,099,726 |
| 2070 * | 15,177,973 |
| 2071 * | 15,251,752 |
| 2072 * | 15,321,992 |
| 2073 * | 15,390,199 |
| 2074 * | 15,450,928 |
| 2075 * | 15,507,865 |
| 2076 * | 15,564,818 |
| 2077 * | 15,617,354 |
| 2078 * | 15,667,010 |
| 2079 * | 15,712,160 |
| 2080 * | 15,751,832 |
| 2081 * | 15,790,543 |
| 2082 * | 15,828,182 |
| 2083 * | 15,862,678 |
| 2084 * | 15,891,034 |
| 2085 * | 15,913,301 |
| 2086 * | 15,937,244 |
| 2087 * | 15,958,640 |
| 2088 * | 15,973,460 |
| 2089 * | 15,986,028 |
| 2090 * | 15,996,608 |
| 2091 * | 16,004,831 |
| 2092 * | 16,009,636 |
| 2093 * | 16,008,707 |
| 2094 * | 16,006,576 |
| 2095 * | 16,002,502 |
| 2096 * | 15,992,900 |
| 2097 * | 15,980,211 |
| 2098 * | 15,966,369 |
| 2099 * | 15,952,536 |
| 2100 * | 15,934,256 |
* UN projection
Population of Sierra Leone by year
4.4 million in 2000, 9 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 8,996,744 | +2.01% | +176,950 | −12,277 | 19.9 | 3.53 | 125 | 47% | 0.11% | 101 |
| 2025* | 8,819,794 | +2.06% | +177,772 | −11,309 | 19.7 | 3.61 | 123 | 46% | 0.11% | 102 |
| 2024* | 8,642,022 | +2.15% | +181,510 | −11,000 | 19.5 | 3.70 | 120 | 45% | 0.11% | 102 |
| 2023 | 8,460,512 | +2.22% | +183,706 | −4,000 | 19.3 | 3.79 | 118 | 45% | 0.10% | 102 |
| 2022 | 8,276,806 | +2.25% | +182,204 | −4,000 | 19.0 | 3.88 | 115 | 44% | 0.10% | 102 |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 | +2.30% | +182,044 | −1,544 | 18.8 | 3.98 | 113 | 44% | 0.10% | 102 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | +2.34% | +180,567 | +1,292 | 18.6 | 4.08 | 110 | 43% | 0.10% | 102 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 | +2.35% | +177,428 | −2,238 | 18.4 | 4.19 | 108 | 43% | 0.10% | 102 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 | +2.38% | +175,264 | −2,741 | 18.2 | 4.29 | 105 | 42% | 0.10% | 102 |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 | +2.41% | +173,971 | +1,234 | 18.0 | 4.39 | 103 | 42% | 0.10% | 103 |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 | +2.38% | +167,673 | +4,657 | 17.8 | 4.47 | 100 | 41% | 0.10% | 103 |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | +2.35% | +161,270 | −356 | 17.7 | 4.55 | 98 | 41% | 0.09% | 105 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | +2.76% | +167,068 | +7,983 | 17.1 | 5.33 | 87 | 39% | 0.09% | 107 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | +2.73% | +145,995 | −1,805 | 16.9 | 5.81 | 77 | 37% | 0.08% | 107 |
| 2000 | 4,423,612 | +2.44% | +105,568 | +83,013 | 16.9 | 6.35 | 62 | 36% | 0.07% | 115 |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 | +0.15% | +6,074 | −112,857 | 17.2 | 6.56 | 58 | 35% | 0.07% | 118 |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 | +4.04% | +162,791 | +131,587 | 17.4 | 6.57 | 58 | 34% | 0.08% | 113 |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 | +2.24% | +79,680 | −7,873 | 17.7 | 6.59 | 51 | 32% | 0.07% | 114 |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 | +2.01% | +64,590 | −11,641 | 18.1 | 6.56 | 46 | 30% | 0.07% | 115 |
| 1975 | 2,974,656 | +1.86% | +54,197 | −13,058 | 18.6 | 6.55 | 41 | 28% | 0.07% | 115 |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 | +1.91% | +50,921 | −4,957 | 19.4 | 6.41 | 38 | 24% | 0.07% | 116 |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 | +1.83% | +44,276 | −1,851 | 19.9 | 6.31 | 34 | 20% | 0.07% | 114 |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 | +1.49% | +33,330 | −3,528 | 20.1 | 6.17 | 32 | 17% | 0.08% | 112 |
| 1955 | 2,120,889 | +1.23% | +25,823 | −5,237 | 19.9 | 6.07 | 30 | 15% | 0.08% | 111 |
| 1950 | 1,999,623 | – | – | −3,290 | 19.4 | 6.09 | 28 | 12% | 0.08% | 109 |
Population forecast for Sierra Leone
UN medium-variant projection: 12.9 million in 2050 (+43.9% from 2026), 15.9 million in 2100.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 9,694,858 | +1.83% | −13,030 | 20.9 | 3.23 | 135 | 49% | 0.11% | 98 |
| 2035 | 10,563,168 | +1.65% | −11,108 | 22.2 | 2.97 | 147 | 52% | 0.12% | 94 |
| 2040 | 11,398,400 | +1.50% | −7,726 | 23.6 | 2.76 | 159 | 56% | 0.12% | 92 |
| 2045 | 12,208,880 | +1.32% | −14,090 | 24.9 | 2.58 | 170 | 60% | 0.13% | 91 |
| 2050 | 12,948,325 | +1.12% | −12,333 | 26.3 | 2.45 | 180 | 64% | 0.13% | 91 |
| 2060 | 14,219,379 | +0.79% | −15,579 | 29.1 | 2.25 | 198 | – | 0.14% | 89 |
| 2070 | 15,177,973 | +0.52% | −14,988 | 31.6 | 2.10 | 212 | – | 0.15% | 87 |
| 2080 | 15,751,832 | +0.25% | −16,026 | 33.9 | 2.00 | 220 | – | 0.15% | 88 |
| 2090 | 15,996,608 | +0.07% | −11,451 | 35.8 | 1.93 | 223 | – | 0.16% | 87 |
| 2100 | 15,934,256 | −0.11% | −16,996 | 37.4 | 1.87 | 222 | – | 0.16% | 87 |
Largest cities in Sierra Leone
Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world
| # | City | Population 2026 | 2050* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freetown (capital) | 1,970,485 | 2,650,410 |
| 2 | Bo | 350,999 | 460,506 |
| 3 | Kenema | 252,047 | 310,653 |
| 4 | Makeni | 203,544 | 255,195 |
| 5 | Koidu Town | 143,090 | 178,124 |
| 6 | Mahera | 102,321 | 172,493 |
| 7 | Kambia | 80,254 | 146,078 |
| 8 | Port Loko | 79,703 | 143,498 |
| 9 | Magburaka | 77,614 | 113,449 |
| 10 | Mile 91 | 74,689 | 104,542 |
Age structure
Median age 19.9. 3.3% are 65 or older, 5.5% by 2050; 37.2% are under 15.
Share of the total population in each age group (%)
Births per woman
3.53 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.
- UN estimate
- UN projection
1.9 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.09 |
| 1951 | 6.07 |
| 1952 | 6.03 |
| 1953 | 6.00 |
| 1954 | 6.05 |
| 1955 | 6.07 |
| 1956 | 6.10 |
| 1957 | 6.11 |
| 1958 | 6.13 |
| 1959 | 6.15 |
| 1960 | 6.17 |
| 1961 | 6.20 |
| 1962 | 6.22 |
| 1963 | 6.26 |
| 1964 | 6.29 |
| 1965 | 6.31 |
| 1966 | 6.34 |
| 1967 | 6.38 |
| 1968 | 6.39 |
| 1969 | 6.39 |
| 1970 | 6.41 |
| 1971 | 6.43 |
| 1972 | 6.45 |
| 1973 | 6.47 |
| 1974 | 6.53 |
| 1975 | 6.55 |
| 1976 | 6.55 |
| 1977 | 6.57 |
| 1978 | 6.59 |
| 1979 | 6.58 |
| 1980 | 6.56 |
| 1981 | 6.55 |
| 1982 | 6.56 |
| 1983 | 6.57 |
| 1984 | 6.59 |
| 1985 | 6.59 |
| 1986 | 6.60 |
| 1987 | 6.61 |
| 1988 | 6.59 |
| 1989 | 6.57 |
| 1990 | 6.57 |
| 1991 | 6.55 |
| 1992 | 6.56 |
| 1993 | 6.57 |
| 1994 | 6.56 |
| 1995 | 6.56 |
| 1996 | 6.55 |
| 1997 | 6.53 |
| 1998 | 6.50 |
| 1999 | 6.42 |
| 2000 | 6.35 |
| 2001 | 6.31 |
| 2002 | 6.23 |
| 2003 | 6.09 |
| 2004 | 5.92 |
| 2005 | 5.81 |
| 2006 | 5.74 |
| 2007 | 5.64 |
| 2008 | 5.56 |
| 2009 | 5.45 |
| 2010 | 5.33 |
| 2011 | 5.21 |
| 2012 | 5.06 |
| 2013 | 4.87 |
| 2014 | 4.70 |
| 2015 | 4.55 |
| 2016 | 4.47 |
| 2017 | 4.39 |
| 2018 | 4.29 |
| 2019 | 4.19 |
| 2020 | 4.08 |
| 2021 | 3.98 |
| 2022 | 3.88 |
| 2023 | 3.79 |
| 2024 * | 3.70 |
| 2025 * | 3.61 |
| 2026 * | 3.53 |
| 2027 * | 3.47 |
| 2028 * | 3.37 |
| 2029 * | 3.30 |
| 2030 * | 3.23 |
| 2031 * | 3.18 |
| 2032 * | 3.12 |
| 2033 * | 3.07 |
| 2034 * | 3.02 |
| 2035 * | 2.97 |
| 2036 * | 2.93 |
| 2037 * | 2.88 |
| 2038 * | 2.84 |
| 2039 * | 2.79 |
| 2040 * | 2.76 |
| 2041 * | 2.72 |
| 2042 * | 2.69 |
| 2043 * | 2.65 |
| 2044 * | 2.62 |
| 2045 * | 2.58 |
| 2046 * | 2.55 |
| 2047 * | 2.53 |
| 2048 * | 2.50 |
| 2049 * | 2.47 |
| 2050 * | 2.45 |
| 2051 * | 2.43 |
| 2052 * | 2.41 |
| 2053 * | 2.38 |
| 2054 * | 2.36 |
| 2055 * | 2.34 |
| 2056 * | 2.32 |
| 2057 * | 2.30 |
| 2058 * | 2.28 |
| 2059 * | 2.26 |
| 2060 * | 2.25 |
| 2061 * | 2.23 |
| 2062 * | 2.22 |
| 2063 * | 2.20 |
| 2064 * | 2.18 |
| 2065 * | 2.17 |
| 2066 * | 2.16 |
| 2067 * | 2.15 |
| 2068 * | 2.13 |
| 2069 * | 2.12 |
| 2070 * | 2.10 |
| 2071 * | 2.09 |
| 2072 * | 2.08 |
| 2073 * | 2.07 |
| 2074 * | 2.06 |
| 2075 * | 2.05 |
| 2076 * | 2.04 |
| 2077 * | 2.03 |
| 2078 * | 2.02 |
| 2079 * | 2.01 |
| 2080 * | 2.00 |
| 2081 * | 1.99 |
| 2082 * | 1.99 |
| 2083 * | 1.98 |
| 2084 * | 1.97 |
| 2085 * | 1.96 |
| 2086 * | 1.95 |
| 2087 * | 1.94 |
| 2088 * | 1.94 |
| 2089 * | 1.93 |
| 2090 * | 1.93 |
| 2091 * | 1.92 |
| 2092 * | 1.91 |
| 2093 * | 1.91 |
| 2094 * | 1.90 |
| 2095 * | 1.90 |
| 2096 * | 1.89 |
| 2097 * | 1.89 |
| 2098 * | 1.88 |
| 2099 * | 1.88 |
| 2100 * | 1.87 |
* UN projection
Births and deaths each year
Deaths are projected to outnumber births from 2099.
- Births
- Deaths
- UN estimate
- UN projection
199k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 95,629 | 68,972 |
| 1951 | 96,433 | 68,920 |
| 1952 | 96,996 | 68,809 |
| 1953 | 97,615 | 68,805 |
| 1954 | 99,440 | 69,002 |
| 1955 | 100,970 | 69,282 |
| 1956 | 102,573 | 69,661 |
| 1957 | 104,000 | 69,894 |
| 1958 | 105,481 | 70,303 |
| 1959 | 106,986 | 70,576 |
| 1960 | 108,883 | 70,692 |
| 1961 | 110,885 | 70,863 |
| 1962 | 112,687 | 71,084 |
| 1963 | 114,838 | 71,270 |
| 1964 | 116,849 | 71,362 |
| 1965 | 118,544 | 71,320 |
| 1966 | 120,599 | 71,115 |
| 1967 | 122,799 | 71,066 |
| 1968 | 124,450 | 71,322 |
| 1969 | 126,323 | 71,556 |
| 1970 | 128,475 | 71,963 |
| 1971 | 130,657 | 72,173 |
| 1972 | 132,795 | 72,515 |
| 1973 | 135,213 | 72,772 |
| 1974 | 138,506 | 73,150 |
| 1975 | 140,735 | 73,173 |
| 1976 | 142,940 | 73,433 |
| 1977 | 145,387 | 73,722 |
| 1978 | 148,361 | 74,230 |
| 1979 | 150,749 | 74,758 |
| 1980 | 153,258 | 75,327 |
| 1981 | 156,218 | 76,108 |
| 1982 | 159,450 | 76,993 |
| 1983 | 162,737 | 78,107 |
| 1984 | 166,518 | 79,446 |
| 1985 | 169,929 | 81,059 |
| 1986 | 173,760 | 82,859 |
| 1987 | 178,462 | 84,229 |
| 1988 | 182,564 | 86,220 |
| 1989 | 186,584 | 88,286 |
| 1990 | 190,874 | 90,098 |
| 1991 | 201,797 | 96,319 |
| 1992 | 195,771 | 92,520 |
| 1993 | 195,162 | 91,845 |
| 1994 | 195,206 | 93,721 |
| 1995 | 195,444 | 94,559 |
| 1996 | 195,188 | 91,046 |
| 1997 | 196,834 | 91,401 |
| 1998 | 198,896 | 94,989 |
| 1999 | 199,179 | 96,883 |
| 2000 | 199,261 | 88,507 |
| 2001 | 206,540 | 89,895 |
| 2002 | 220,140 | 93,714 |
| 2003 | 225,091 | 94,776 |
| 2004 | 227,428 | 94,769 |
| 2005 | 230,908 | 93,670 |
| 2006 | 235,141 | 91,015 |
| 2007 | 236,058 | 90,314 |
| 2008 | 239,259 | 89,406 |
| 2009 | 241,335 | 88,668 |
| 2010 | 243,404 | 88,061 |
| 2011 | 246,024 | 87,166 |
| 2012 | 247,465 | 86,552 |
| 2013 | 245,736 | 84,466 |
| 2014 | 244,938 | 84,803 |
| 2015 | 243,911 | 81,635 |
| 2016 | 246,383 | 77,596 |
| 2017 | 249,479 | 76,224 |
| 2018 | 251,868 | 73,100 |
| 2019 | 253,675 | 72,604 |
| 2020 | 254,755 | 73,738 |
| 2021 | 256,143 | 72,819 |
| 2022 | 257,167 | 70,547 |
| 2023 | 258,903 | 70,116 |
| 2024 * | 260,194 | 70,955 |
| 2025 * | 260,288 | 71,671 |
| 2026 * | 261,328 | 72,457 |
| 2027 * | 262,858 | 73,294 |
| 2028 * | 262,197 | 74,119 |
| 2029 * | 262,112 | 74,942 |
| 2030 * | 262,783 | 75,892 |
| 2031 * | 263,544 | 76,862 |
| 2032 * | 264,327 | 77,942 |
| 2033 * | 264,986 | 78,994 |
| 2034 * | 265,313 | 80,086 |
| 2035 * | 265,551 | 81,185 |
| 2036 * | 265,731 | 82,372 |
| 2037 * | 265,643 | 83,546 |
| 2038 * | 265,570 | 84,820 |
| 2039 * | 265,209 | 86,101 |
| 2040 * | 265,159 | 87,547 |
| 2041 * | 265,164 | 88,963 |
| 2042 * | 265,281 | 90,418 |
| 2043 * | 264,800 | 91,935 |
| 2044 * | 264,281 | 93,468 |
| 2045 * | 263,988 | 95,082 |
| 2046 * | 263,430 | 96,731 |
| 2047 * | 262,849 | 98,407 |
| 2048 * | 262,066 | 100,114 |
| 2049 * | 261,540 | 101,880 |
| 2050 * | 260,819 | 103,727 |
| 2051 * | 260,280 | 105,700 |
| 2052 * | 259,619 | 107,668 |
| 2053 * | 258,664 | 109,616 |
| 2054 * | 257,746 | 111,587 |
| 2055 * | 256,282 | 113,566 |
| 2056 * | 255,390 | 115,688 |
| 2057 * | 254,318 | 117,809 |
| 2058 * | 253,360 | 119,958 |
| 2059 * | 252,294 | 122,110 |
| 2060 * | 251,389 | 124,318 |
| 2061 * | 250,400 | 126,603 |
| 2062 * | 249,300 | 128,937 |
| 2063 * | 248,000 | 131,341 |
| 2064 * | 246,693 | 133,678 |
| 2065 * | 245,526 | 135,986 |
| 2066 * | 244,713 | 138,388 |
| 2067 * | 243,843 | 140,926 |
| 2068 * | 242,928 | 143,438 |
| 2069 * | 241,512 | 145,953 |
| 2070 * | 239,853 | 148,313 |
| 2071 * | 238,608 | 150,832 |
| 2072 * | 237,323 | 153,311 |
| 2073 * | 236,571 | 155,646 |
| 2074 * | 235,115 | 158,189 |
| 2075 * | 233,333 | 160,529 |
| 2076 * | 231,812 | 163,003 |
| 2077 * | 230,358 | 165,507 |
| 2078 * | 229,140 | 167,913 |
| 2079 * | 227,641 | 170,304 |
| 2080 * | 226,340 | 172,478 |
| 2081 * | 225,067 | 174,813 |
| 2082 * | 223,850 | 177,012 |
| 2083 * | 222,388 | 179,295 |
| 2084 * | 221,002 | 181,243 |
| 2085 * | 219,564 | 183,209 |
| 2086 * | 217,911 | 185,129 |
| 2087 * | 216,763 | 186,936 |
| 2088 * | 215,606 | 188,646 |
| 2089 * | 214,165 | 190,262 |
| 2090 * | 212,969 | 191,871 |
| 2091 * | 211,719 | 193,462 |
| 2092 * | 210,212 | 194,964 |
| 2093 * | 208,965 | 196,268 |
| 2094 * | 207,468 | 197,590 |
| 2095 * | 206,261 | 198,749 |
| 2096 * | 204,856 | 199,937 |
| 2097 * | 203,620 | 201,055 |
| 2098 * | 202,186 | 201,962 |
| 2099 * | 200,618 | 202,950 |
| 2100 * | 199,024 | 203,889 |
* UN projection
Economy of Sierra Leone
GDP by country →- GDP 2026
- $8.5 billion 151st largest economy
- GDP per person
- $946 US$, market rates
- GDP per person (PPP)
- Int$ 3,933 at purchasing power parity
- Economic growth
- +4.0% real GDP
- Inflation
- 13.8% consumer prices
- Unemployment
- – of the labour force
- Government debt
- 50.1% of GDP
- Share of world GDP
- 0.0%
- IMF estimate
- IMF projection
10.7B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | GDP, US$ |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,509,000,000 |
| 1991 | 1,812,000,000 |
| 1992 | 1,580,000,000 |
| 1993 | 1,786,000,000 |
| 1994 | 2,118,000,000 |
| 1995 | 2,026,000,000 |
| 1996 | 2,188,000,000 |
| 1997 | 1,974,000,000 |
| 1998 | 1,562,000,000 |
| 1999 | 1,555,000,000 |
| 2000 | 1,498,000,000 |
| 2001 | 1,726,000,000 |
| 2002 | 1,990,000,000 |
| 2003 | 2,218,000,000 |
| 2004 | 2,339,000,000 |
| 2005 | 2,738,000,000 |
| 2006 | 3,144,000,000 |
| 2007 | 3,451,000,000 |
| 2008 | 3,926,000,000 |
| 2009 | 3,795,000,000 |
| 2010 | 4,174,000,000 |
| 2011 | 4,799,000,000 |
| 2012 | 5,746,000,000 |
| 2013 | 6,736,000,000 |
| 2014 | 6,521,000,000 |
| 2015 | 6,750,000,000 |
| 2016 | 6,038,000,000 |
| 2017 | 5,823,000,000 |
| 2018 | 6,390,000,000 |
| 2019 | 6,519,000,000 |
| 2020 | 6,682,000,000 |
| 2021 | 7,166,000,000 |
| 2022 | 7,121,000,000 |
| 2023 | 6,401,000,000 |
| 2024 | 6,959,000,000 |
| 2025 | 7,711,000,000 |
| 2026 * | 8,520,000,000 |
| 2027 * | 8,835,000,000 |
| 2028 * | 9,299,000,000 |
| 2029 * | 9,743,000,000 |
| 2030 * | 10,217,000,000 |
| 2031 * | 10,735,000,000 |
* IMF projection
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries
CO₂ emissions of Sierra Leone
CO₂ by country →- CO₂ emissions 2024
- 1.4 million tonnes 162nd largest emitter
- Per person
- 0.17 t world: 4.73 t
- Share of world CO₂
- 0.00% 0.11% of its people
- Change since 1990
- +188% +232% since 2005
1.4 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | CO₂, million tonnes |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.16 |
| 1951 | 0.10 |
| 1952 | 0.18 |
| 1953 | 0.17 |
| 1954 | 0.12 |
| 1955 | 0.18 |
| 1956 | 0.18 |
| 1957 | 0.39 |
| 1958 | 0.21 |
| 1959 | 0.23 |
| 1960 | 0.71 |
| 1961 | 0.29 |
| 1962 | 0.33 |
| 1963 | 0.37 |
| 1964 | 0.30 |
| 1965 | 0.28 |
| 1966 | 0.30 |
| 1967 | 0.25 |
| 1968 | 0.36 |
| 1969 | 1.08 |
| 1970 | 0.86 |
| 1971 | 0.80 |
| 1972 | 0.68 |
| 1973 | 0.54 |
| 1974 | 0.52 |
| 1975 | 0.52 |
| 1976 | 0.45 |
| 1977 | 0.51 |
| 1978 | 0.71 |
| 1979 | 0.68 |
| 1980 | 0.61 |
| 1981 | 0.69 |
| 1982 | 0.55 |
| 1983 | 0.69 |
| 1984 | 0.62 |
| 1985 | 0.66 |
| 1986 | 0.67 |
| 1987 | 0.50 |
| 1988 | 0.46 |
| 1989 | 0.37 |
| 1990 | 0.50 |
| 1991 | 0.56 |
| 1992 | 0.28 |
| 1993 | 0.26 |
| 1994 | 0.28 |
| 1995 | 0.22 |
| 1996 | 0.23 |
| 1997 | 0.20 |
| 1998 | 0.22 |
| 1999 | 0.18 |
| 2000 | 0.27 |
| 2001 | 0.37 |
| 2002 | 0.50 |
| 2003 | 0.54 |
| 2004 | 0.52 |
| 2005 | 0.43 |
| 2006 | 0.57 |
| 2007 | 0.49 |
| 2008 | 0.51 |
| 2009 | 0.50 |
| 2010 | 0.55 |
| 2011 | 0.71 |
| 2012 | 0.83 |
| 2013 | 1.05 |
| 2014 | 1.13 |
| 2015 | 1.08 |
| 2016 | 1.14 |
| 2017 | 1.10 |
| 2018 | 1.04 |
| 2019 | 1.12 |
| 2020 | 1.19 |
| 2021 | 1.48 |
| 2022 | 1.44 |
| 2023 | 1.38 |
| 2024 | 1.43 |
Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions
Compare with Africa
| Country | Population 2026 | Growth | Fertility | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | 9 million | +1.96% | 3.53 | 19.9 |
| Nigeria | 242 million | +2.03% | 4.20 | 18.3 |
| Ethiopia | 139 million | +2.48% | 3.72 | 19.3 |
| Egypt | 120 million | +1.44% | 2.68 | 24.7 |
| DR Congo | 116 million | +3.13% | 5.80 | 15.9 |
| Tanzania | 72.6 million | +2.79% | 4.41 | 17.6 |
| South Africa | 65.5 million | +1.05% | 2.17 | 28.9 |
| Kenya | 58.6 million | +1.89% | 3.07 | 20.3 |
| Sudan | 53.3 million | +3.03% | 4.13 | 18.8 |
All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country
Air quality in Sierra Leone today
Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for Freetown.
Questions
What is the population of Sierra Leone in 2026?
8,996,744 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 9 million people, +2.01% on 2025.
Is Sierra Leone's population growing or shrinking?
Growing: 176,950 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 715 births and 198 deaths a day and net migration of −12,277 a year.
When will Sierra Leone's population peak?
In 2092, at about 16 million, on the UN's medium projection; 15.9 million by 2100.
What is the fertility rate in Sierra Leone?
3.53 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.
How many babies are born in Sierra Leone every day?
About 715 a day (261 thousand in 2026), against about 198 deaths a day.
What is the life expectancy in Sierra Leone?
62.3 years at birth in 2026: 64.1 for women and 60.6 for men, against a world average of 73.8.
How many men and women live in Sierra Leone?
About 4.5 million men and 4.5 million women in 2026, or 99.5 men for every 100 women.
What is the population density of Sierra Leone?
125 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 71,740 km². The world average is 64.
What was the population of Sierra Leone in 2000?
4,423,612 (4.4 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 103% since, to 9 million in 2026.
What will the population of Sierra Leone be in 2050?
About 12.9 million on the UN's medium projection (12,948,325), +43.9% from 2026; 15.9 million by 2100.
What are the largest cities in Sierra Leone?
Freetown (2 million), Bo (351 thousand), Kenema (252 thousand), Makeni (204 thousand), Koidu Town (143 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.
What is the GDP of Sierra Leone in 2026?
$8.5 billion at current prices, the 151st largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +4.0%.
What is Sierra Leone's GDP per capita?
$946 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 3,933 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.
How much CO₂ does Sierra Leone emit?
1.4 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.17 t per person and 0.00% of the world total; oil is the largest source (100%).
Source and method
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.