Sierra Leone

Name: Sierra Leone Population Statistics
Creator: Measured World
Published: 2024-07-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/

1950

2025

2100

Sierra Leone

1950

2025

2100

What to know

Current population: 8,819,794 (2025).

Growing rapidly at +2.17% per year—one of the faster rates globally.

Projected to reach 15,934,256 by 2100 (+81% from today).

Key statistics for 2025

Total population

8.8M

Density

123 people/km²

Median age

19.7 years

Growth rate

+2.01%

Key terms

Population growth rate: — Annual percentage change in total population size.
Population density: — People per square kilometre of land area.
Median age: — Age at which half the population is younger and half is older.
Sex ratio: — Number of males per 100 females in the population.

The trajectory

How fast is the population growing?

Total population from 1950 to 2100 (projections beyond 2024)

At the current growth rate, the population would double in approximately 32 years.

Population structure

How is the population split by gender?

Male and female population with sex ratio trend

No population by gender data available.

The sex ratio of 99.5 males per 100 females is close to the global average.

Density & aging

Density

People per square kilometre

Median age

Age where half the population is younger

Population density of 123 people per km² is moderate by global standards. The median age is projected to rise by 7 years by 2050, from 19.5 to 26.3.

Rate of change

How fast is the population changing?

Annual percentage change in population size

Growth peaked at 7.34% in 2001.

The bottom line

Sierra Leone is experiencing rapid population growth, adding millions of people each year. The population is aging rapidly—median age will rise from 19 to 26 by 2050. UN projections show continued growth to 15.9M by 2100.

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).

What to know

Current population: 8,819,794 (2025).

Growing rapidly at +2.17% per year—one of the faster rates globally.

Projected to reach 15,934,256 by 2100 (+81% from today).

Key statistics for 2025

Total population

8.8M

Density

123 people/km²

Median age

19.7 years

Growth rate

+2.01%

Key terms

Population growth rate: — Annual percentage change in total population size.
Population density: — People per square kilometre of land area.
Median age: — Age at which half the population is younger and half is older.
Sex ratio: — Number of males per 100 females in the population.

The trajectory

How fast is the population growing?

Total population from 1950 to 2100 (projections beyond 2024)

At the current growth rate, the population would double in approximately 32 years.

Population structure

How is the population split by gender?

Male and female population with sex ratio trend

No population by gender data available.

The sex ratio of 99.5 males per 100 females is close to the global average.

Density & aging

Density

People per square kilometre

Median age

Age where half the population is younger

Population density of 123 people per km² is moderate by global standards. The median age is projected to rise by 7 years by 2050, from 19.5 to 26.3.

Rate of change

How fast is the population changing?

Annual percentage change in population size

Growth peaked at 7.34% in 2001.

The bottom line

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).

Sierra Leone - Population Statistics | Measured World