The population of Sierra Leone is expected to grow by 165,000 in 2022 and reach 8,541,000 in 2023. 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 111.5 in 2020.
| Current population | 8,496,699 people at present (Saturday 24th of September 2022) | |
| Median Age | 23.3 years |
| Population density | 116.0 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2021 the population of Sierra Leone was 8,211,000 and the average age decreased from 24.4 in 1960 to 23.1. Urban population has increased from 1,626,076 (35.6%) in 2000 to 3,587,000 (42.8%) in the current year. The population density of Sierra Leone has changed from 46.6 in 1980 to 111.5 in 2020.
| 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 population growth rate is 2.01% (164,000 residents, including 95,309 deaths). The demographics of Sierra Leone constitutes of 4,223,000 women and 4,153,000 men, which means there are 983 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 51.3% of population (4,298,563) is 19 or younger, 46.1% of population (3,861,336) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.6% of population (214,426) is over 65.