Sierra Leone Population
Sierra Leone has many natural resources that could make the country one of Africa’s richest. However, war, political unrest and a major outbreak of Ebola disease have made Sierra Leone one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. Today, more than 50 percent of the population lives in absolute poverty.
Key figures and facts
- Capital: Freetown
- Ethnic groups: Time 35.5%, mending 33.2%, limba 6.2%, kono 4.4%, fullah 3.4%, loko 2.9%, koranko 2.8%, sherbro 2.6%, mandingo 2, 4%, creole (krio) 1.2%, others from Sierra Leone 4.7%, others from abroad 0.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2013)
- Language: English (official), mende, temne, krio
- Religion: Muslims 78.6%, Christians 20.8%, other/unspecified 0.5% (2013)
- Population: 7,719,729 (2018)
- Control Form: Republic
- Area: 72 300 km2
- Currency: Sierra Leone
- GNP per capita: 1 476 PPP $
- National Day: April 27th
Population of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has a population estimated at 6.6 million residents and an annual population growth of 2.4 percent (2020). In the period 1994-2006, population growth was 2.6 percent.
Life expectancy is among the lowest in the world. In 2020, it was estimated to be 62 years for women and 57 years for men. However, there is a large increase from 2004, when life expectancy was estimated at 40 years for women and 37 years for men. Both birth rate and mortality are high, and especially infant mortality is high – 63 dead per 1,000 live births (2017). Each woman has an average of 4.6 children (2020). The population is “young”; 41.3 percent of the population is under 15 (2020).
Population of Sierra Leone by Year (Historical)
| Year | Population | Annual Growth Rate | Population Density | Global Rank |
| 2020 | 7,976,872 | 2.100% | 110.5151 | 103 |
| 2019 | 7,813,104 | 2.130% | 108.2463 | 103 |
| 2018 | 7,650,039 | 2.160% | 105.9871 | 103 |
| 2017 | 7,488,312 | 2.180% | 103.7465 | 103 |
| 2016 | 7,328,723 | 2.190% | 101.5355 | 103 |
| 2015 | 7,171,803 | 2.250% | 99.3615 | 105 |
| 2010 | 6,415,523 | 2.590% | 88.8838 | 105 |
| 2005 | 5,645,513 | 4.250% | 78.2159 | 107 |
| 2000 | 4,584,460 | 1.270% | 63.5158 | 113 |
| 1995 | 4,303,846 | -0.070% | 59.6281 | 116 |
| 1990 | 4,319,651 | 2.570% | 59.8471 | 112 |
| 1985 | 3,805,200 | 2.350% | 52.7197 | 113 |
| 1980 | 3,388,384 | 2.210% | 46.9451 | 113 |
| 1975 | 3,037,043 | 2.040% | 42.0775 | 116 |
| 1970 | 2,744,780 | 1.820% | 38.0284 | 115 |
| 1965 | 2,508,108 | 1.590% | 34.7495 | 112 |
| 1960 | 2,317,525 | 1.360% | 32.1091 | 111 |
| 1955 | 2,165,704 | 1.190% | 30.0057 | 111 |
| 1950 | 2,041,092 | 0.000% | 28.2793 | 110 |
Major Cities in Sierra Leone by Population
| Rank | City | Population |
| 1 | Freetown | 802,528 |
| 2 | Bo | 174,243 |
| 3 | Kenema | 143,026 |
| 4 | Koidu | 87,889 |
| 5 | Makeni | 87,568 |
| 6 | Lunsar | 22,350 |
| 7 | Port Loko | 21,197 |
| 8 | Waterloo | 19,639 |
| 9 | Kabala | 17,837 |
| 10 | Segbwema | 16,421 |
| 11 | Magburaka | 14,804 |
| 12 | Kailahun | 13,974 |
| 13 | Binkolo | 13,756 |
| 14 | Freetown | 13,657 |
| 15 | Bumpe | 13,469 |
| 16 | Rokupr | 12,393 |
| 17 | Gandorhun | 12,177 |
| 18 | Kambia | 11,409 |
| 19 | Yengema | 11,110 |
| 20 | Gandorhun | 10,567 |
| 21 | Bonthe | 9,536 |
| 22 | Pendembu | 8,669 |
| 23 | Blama | 8,035 |
| 24 | Kamakwie | 7,987 |
| 25 | Panguma | 7,854 |
| 26 | Pujehun | 7,815 |
| 27 | Kukuna | 7,565 |
| 28 | Barma | 7,418 |
| 29 | Boajibu | 7,273 |
| 30 | Bunumbu | 7,244 |
| 31 | Sumbuya | 6,963 |
| 32 | Baoma | 6,933 |
| 33 | Moyamba | 6,589 |
| 34 | Mambolo | 6,513 |
| 35 | Tombodu | 5,874 |
| 36 | Daru | 5,847 |
| 37 | Foindu | 5,757 |
| 38 | Masingbi | 5,533 |
| 39 | Motema | 5,363 |
| 40 | Bomi | 5,352 |
| 41 | Tintafor | 5,349 |
| 42 | Buedu | 5,301 |
| 43 | Mamboma | 5,090 |
| 44 | Kassiri | 5,050 |
| 45 | Hastings | 5,010 |
| 46 | Hangha | 4,896 |
People Groups
The population consists of a number of ethnic groups that have many cultural and social similarities. Mende and temne are the largest groups with about 30 percent each of the total population. Mende dominates in the south, tem in the central parts of the country and in the north. Among the minorities are limba and fulani in the north, kuranko in the northeast and sherbro in the south.
The Krio (really Creole), who are descendants of slaves, long dominated the country’s political elite. These now make up less than 2 percent of the population and live mostly in Freetown. They are divided on the basis of religion and traditions, and come into contradiction with the inland people.
People Density
Sierra Leone has a population density of 105 people per square kilometer (2017). The majority of the population lives in the capital region in the west. Around 43 percent of the residents live in densely populated areas (2020). The capital Freetown with 1,202,000 residents (2020) is the largest city.
Religion
78.6 percent of the population are Sunni Muslims and 20.8 percent are Christians (2020). The rest belong to traditional religions.
Language
English is the official language, but the daily speech is the Creole language krio, which is a mixture of English and different African languages. The local languages belong to the Niger-Congo language family. The largest is accommodating, Temne and limba.