The population of Sierra Leone is expected to grow by 166,000 in 2024 and reach 8,874,000 in 2025. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 6,000 people yearly. The population density of Sierra Leone has changed from 46.6 in 1980 to 116.0 in 2022.
| Current population | 8,766,937 people at present (Friday 10th of May 2024) | |
| Median Age | 23.6 years |
| Population density | 120.6 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8,707,000 | 166,000 (1.9%) | -6,000 | 23.6 | 121 | 3,809,000 (43.7%) | |
| 2023 | 8,541,000 | 165,000 (1.9%) | -6,000 | 23.4 | 118 | 3,696,000 (43.3%) | |
| 2022 | 8,376,000 | 165,000 (2.0%) | -6,000 | 23.3 | 116 | 3,587,000 (42.8%) | |
| 2021 | 8,211,000 | 164,000 (2.0%) | -6,000 | 23.1 | 114 | 3,479,000 (42.4%) | |
| 2020 | 8,047,000 | 164,000 (2.0%) | -6,000 | 23.0 | 4.08 | 112 | 3,375,000 (41.9%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,200 | 22.9 | 4.17 | 109 | 3,273,000 (41.5%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,200 | 22.8 | 4.27 | 107 | 3,173,000 (41.1%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,200 | 22.6 | 4.37 | 105 | 3,076,000 (40.7%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,200 | 22.5 | 4.46 | 102 | 2,981,996 (40.3%) |
| 2015 | 7,237,025 | 157,863 (2.2%) | -4,200 | 22.4 | 4.56 | 100 | 2,890,613 (39.9%) |
| 2010 | 6,458,720 | 148,460 (2.3%) | -4,200 | 22.0 | 5.20 | 89 | 2,469,879 (38.2%) |
| 2005 | 5,658,379 | 218,684 (3.9%) | 12,000 | 21.8 | 5.86 | 78 | 2,084,547 (36.8%) |
| 2000 | 4,564,297 | 126,494 (2.8%) | 100,000 | 21.8 | 6.32 | 63 | 1,626,076 (35.6%) |
| 1995 | 4,274,819 | -8,802 (-0.2%) | -30,000 | 22.1 | 6.61 | 59 | 1,471,777 (34.4%) |
| 1990 | 4,312,246 | 62,778 (1.5%) | -90,000 | 22.4 | 6.72 | 60 | 1,433,908 (33.3%) |
| 1985 | 3,799,550 | 100,083 (2.6%) | 12,549 | 22.8 | 6.73 | 53 | 1,215,742 (32.0%) |
| 1980 | 3,365,441 | 79,262 (2.4%) | 23.3 | 6.69 | 47 | 1,003,541 (29.8%) | |
| 1975 | 2,993,876 | 66,408 (2.2%) | 23.8 | 6.61 | 41 | 830,172 (27.7%) | |
| 1970 | 2,692,259 | 49,651 (1.8%) | 24.2 | 6.50 | 37 | 645,308 (24.0%) | |
| 1965 | 2,473,294 | 38,090 (1.5%) | 24.3 | 6.34 | 34 | 504,033 (20.4%) | |
| 1960 | 2,297,110 | 32,094 (1.4%) | 24.4 | 6.13 | 32 | 398,595 (17.4%) |
In 2023 the population of Sierra Leone was 8,541,000 and the average age decreased from 24.4 in 1960 to 23.4. Urban population has increased from 1,626,076 (35.6%) in 2000 to 3,809,000 (43.7%) in the current year. The population density of Sierra Leone has changed from 46.6 in 1980 to 116.0 in 2022.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -6,000 | 23.0 | 4.08 | 112 | 3,375,000 (41.9%) |
| 2025 | 8,874,000 | 167,000 (1.9%) | -6,000 | 23.7 | 3.65 | 123 | 3,924,000 (44.2%) |
| 2030 | 9,720,000 | 170,000 (1.8%) | -6,000 | 24.6 | 3.30 | 135 | 4,543,000 (46.7%) |
| 2035 | 10,568,000 | 170,000 (1.6%) | -6,000 | 25.5 | 3.01 | 146 | 5,218,000 (49.4%) |
| 2040 | 11,403,000 | 165,000 (1.5%) | -6,000 | 26.6 | 2.79 | 158 | 5,931,000 (52.0%) |
| 2045 | 12,209,000 | 158,000 (1.3%) | -6,000 | 27.7 | 2.61 | 169 | 6,671,000 (54.6%) |
| 2050 | 12,972,000 | 149,000 (1.2%) | -6,000 | 28.8 | 2.46 | 180 | 7,425,000 (57.2%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 62.8 (61.4 years for male and 64.2 years for females). Population density will go up to 179.7 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Sierra Leone constitutes of 4,388,000 women and 4,319,000 men, which means there are 984 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 50.4% of population (4,391,811) is 19 or younger, 47.0% of population (4,087,937) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.6% of population (226,382) is over 65.