Data / Sierra Leone / Profile

Sierra Leone in figures

A profile of Sierra Leone from official statistics: 19 figures in 4 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Sierra Leone was 8.82 million in 2025, up 2.1% from 2024, and the 100th highest of 215 countries.

Population8.82 million2025Up 2.1% from 2024The 100th highest of 215 countries
Population growth rate2.2%2023Down 0.03 percentage points from 2022The 50th highest of 215 countries
Median age, July 1 estimate19.27 years2023, estimatedUp 0.23 years from 2022The 37th lowest of 236 countries
Population aged 65 and over3.2%2023Up less than 0.1 percentage points from 2022
Population density119.7 inhabitants per km²2024Up 2.1% from 2023
Net migration-4,0002023Unchanged from 2022
4M5M6M7M8M9M20012005200920132017202120252001: 4,692,716 persons2002: 4,971,435 persons2003: 5,177,687 persons2004: 5,355,717 persons2005: 5,501,712 persons2006: 5,624,466 persons2007: 5,749,352 persons2008: 5,894,722 persons2009: 6,055,646 persons2010: 6,222,714 persons2011: 6,387,251 persons2012: 6,551,080 persons2013: 6,714,051 persons2014: 6,876,385 persons2015: 7,037,655 persons2016: 7,205,328 persons2017: 7,379,299 persons2018: 7,554,563 persons2019: 7,731,991 persons2020: 7,912,558 persons2021: 8,094,602 persons2022: 8,276,807 persons2023: 8,460,512 persons2024: 8,642,022 persons2025: 8,819,794 persons
Population, 2001 to 2025. persons. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL).

Sources: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); World Bank, Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW); United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded; World Bank, Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS); World Bank, Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST); World Bank, Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Sierra Leone was 1.65% in 2018, with no 2017 figure in the same series to compare.

Unemployment rate1.65%2018No 2017 figure to compare
Employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over51.7%2025Down 0.2 percentage points from 2024The 52nd lowest of 181 countries
Poverty rate at the national poverty line56.8%2018No 2017 figure to compare
Labor force participation rate, ages 15 and over53.4%2025Down 0.2 percentage points from 2024
Gini index (World Bank, income or consumption)35.72018No 2017 figure to compare
123452003201420182003: 4.3 %2014: 4.68 %2018: 1.65 %
Unemployment rate, 2003 to 2018. %. Source: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT).

Sources: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT); World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS); World Bank, Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines, % of population (SI.POV.NAHC); World Bank, Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS); World Bank, Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in Sierra Leone was $7.46 billion in 2025, up 7.1% from 2024, and the 41st lowest of 199 countries in 2024.

Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars$7.46 billion2025Up 7.1% from 2024The 41st lowest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, US dollars$8462025Up 4.9% from 2024The 10th lowest of 199 countries in 2024
Real GDP growth4.6%2025Up 0.3 percentage points from 2024The 60th highest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, PPP (international dollars)3,717 international $2025Up 5.4% from 2024
Trade as a share of GDP49.1%2025Up 8.6 percentage points from 2024
02,0004,0006,0008,00020012005200920132017202120252001: 1,681.5 USD million2002: 1,933.9 USD million2003: 2,142.6 USD million2004: 2,237.4 USD million2005: 2,545.3 USD million2006: 3,263.7 USD million2007: 3,633 USD million2008: 4,157.9 USD million2009: 3,953.4 USD million2010: 4,262.8 USD million2011: 4,861.6 USD million2012: 6,141.7 USD million2013: 7,502.8 USD million2014: 7,686.1 USD million2015: 6,788.4 USD million2016: 6,084.3 USD million2017: 5,749.8 USD million2018: 6,390.5 USD million2019: 6,523.6 USD million2020: 6,688.3 USD million2021: 7,166.9 USD million2022: 7,121.1 USD million2023: 6,415.9 USD million2024: 6,971.1 USD million2025: 7,464.2 USD million
Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD).

Sources: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD); World Bank, GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD); World Bank, GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG); World Bank, GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD); World Bank, Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). Economy statistics and rankings

Health

Life expectancy in Sierra Leone was 61.79 years in 2023, up 0.51 years from 2022, and the 12th lowest of 215 countries.

Life expectancy at birth61.79 years2023Up 0.51 years from 2022The 12th lowest of 215 countries
Infant mortality rate54.6 per 1,000 live births2024Down 1.7 per 1,000 live births from 2023The 12th highest of 195 countries
Adult obesity rate, age-standardized8.2%2024Up 0.3 percentage points from 2023The 19th lowest of 199 countries
40455055606519992003200720112015201920231999: 41.96 years2000: 44.83 years2001: 45.45 years2002: 46.17 years2003: 46.78 years2004: 47.49 years2005: 48.31 years2006: 49.55 years2007: 50.02 years2008: 50.69 years2009: 51.31 years2010: 51.93 years2011: 52.59 years2012: 53.16 years2013: 54.05 years2014: 54.28 years2015: 55.45 years2016: 56.94 years2017: 57.76 years2018: 59.06 years2019: 59.59 years2020: 59.69 years2021: 60.26 years2022: 61.28 years2023: 61.79 years
Life expectancy at birth, 1999 to 2023. years. Source: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN).

Sources: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN); World Bank, Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A). Health statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded. Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-10. CC BY 3.0 IGO.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  5. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  6. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  7. International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT. Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT). https://data.ilo.org/vis?df%5Bds%5D=ds-production&df%5Bid%5D=DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT&df%5Bag%5D=ILO (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  8. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  9. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines, % of population (SI.POV.NAHC). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC. Retrieved 2026-10-12. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  11. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  12. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  13. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  14. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  15. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  16. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  17. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  18. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  19. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/C6262EC/BEFA58B (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.

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