Population · Africa · 2025 data
Sierra Leone Population
Sierra Leone had a population of 8.82 million in 2025, ranking #100 of 216 countries and territories (0.11% of the world). The population grew by 25.3% over the past ten years.
Population of Sierra Leone, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8,819,794 | +2.06% |
| 2024 | 8,642,022 | +2.15% |
| 2023 | 8,460,512 | +2.22% |
| 2022 | 8,276,807 | +2.25% |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 | +2.30% |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | +2.34% |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 | +2.35% |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 | +2.38% |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 | +2.41% |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 | +2.38% |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | +2.35% |
| 2014 | 6,876,385 | +2.42% |
| 2013 | 6,714,051 | +2.49% |
| 2012 | 6,551,080 | +2.56% |
| 2011 | 6,387,251 | +2.64% |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | +2.76% |
| 2009 | 6,055,646 | +2.73% |
| 2008 | 5,894,722 | +2.53% |
| 2007 | 5,749,352 | +2.22% |
| 2006 | 5,624,466 | +2.23% |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | +2.73% |
| 2004 | 5,355,717 | +3.44% |
| 2003 | 5,177,687 | +4.15% |
| 2002 | 4,971,435 | +5.94% |
| 2001 | 4,692,716 | +6.08% |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 | +2.44% |
| 1999 | 4,318,043 | +0.52% |
| 1998 | 4,295,785 | +0.99% |
| 1997 | 4,253,716 | +1.30% |
| 1996 | 4,199,210 | +0.48% |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 | +0.15% |
| 1994 | 4,173,105 | +0.38% |
| 1993 | 4,157,130 | -0.22% |
| 1992 | 4,166,366 | -1.88% |
| 1991 | 4,246,267 | +1.18% |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 | +4.04% |
| 1989 | 4,034,037 | +2.53% |
| 1988 | 3,934,517 | +2.74% |
| 1987 | 3,829,718 | +2.72% |
| 1986 | 3,728,380 | +2.47% |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 | +2.24% |
| 1984 | 3,558,758 | +2.21% |
| 1983 | 3,481,646 | +2.16% |
| 1982 | 3,408,183 | +2.07% |
| 1981 | 3,338,940 | +2.04% |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 | +2.01% |
| 1979 | 3,207,499 | +1.97% |
| 1978 | 3,145,517 | +1.95% |
| 1977 | 3,085,354 | +1.87% |
| 1976 | 3,028,820 | +1.82% |
| 1975 | 2,974,657 | +1.86% |
| 1974 | 2,920,459 | +1.87% |
| 1973 | 2,866,955 | +1.87% |
| 1972 | 2,814,388 | +1.85% |
| 1971 | 2,763,222 | +1.88% |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 | +1.91% |
| 1969 | 2,661,365 | +1.91% |
| 1968 | 2,611,532 | +1.92% |
| 1967 | 2,562,384 | +1.90% |
| 1966 | 2,514,638 | +1.86% |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 | +1.83% |
| 1964 | 2,424,390 | +1.77% |
| 1963 | 2,382,258 | +1.71% |
| 1962 | 2,342,242 | +1.65% |
| 1961 | 2,304,227 | +1.58% |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 | — |
Demographics of Sierra Leone
Ethnic groups
Temne 35.4%, Mende 30.8%, Limba 8.8%, Kono 4.3%, Korankoh 4%, Fullah 3.8%, Mandingo 2.8%, Loko 2%, Sherbro 1.9%, Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), other 5% (2019 est.)
Languages
English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Religions
Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Sierra Leone and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of Sierra Leone
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).