The population of Sierra Leone is expected to grow by 176,951 in 2026 and reach 9,174,692 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 12,277 people yearly. On average there are 261,868 births and 72,724 deaths in Sierra Leone per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.10 percent per year. The population density of Sierra Leone has changed from 45.3 in 1980 to 119.7 in 2024.
| Current population | 9,146,903 people at present (Wednesday 4th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 24.7 years |
| Life expectancy | 62.3 years | |
| Population density | 125.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8,996,745 | 176,951 (2.0%) | -12,277 | 24.7 | 3.55 | 125 | 4,183,638 (46.5%) |
| 2025 | 8,819,794 | 177,772 (2.0%) | -11,309 | 24.5 | 3.63 | 123 | 4,050,647 (45.9%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -11,000 | 24.3 | 3.70 | 120 | 3,920,253 (45.4%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 24.2 | 3.79 | 117 | 3,791,098 (44.8%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -4,000 | 24.0 | 3.88 | 115 | 3,663,864 (44.3%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -1,544 | 23.9 | 3.98 | 112 | 3,540,137 (43.7%) |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | 180,567 (2.3%) | 1,292 | 23.7 | 4.08 | 110 | 3,419,251 (43.2%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -2,238 | 23.6 | 4.19 | 107 | 3,301,703 (42.7%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -2,741 | 23.5 | 4.29 | 105 | 3,188,109 (42.2%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,234 | 23.3 | 4.39 | 102 | 3,077,955 (41.7%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 4,657 | 23.2 | 4.47 | 100 | 2,970,714 (41.2%) |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | 161,270 (2.3%) | -356 | 23.1 | 4.55 | 98 | 2,869,038 (40.8%) |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | 167,068 (2.7%) | 7,983 | 22.8 | 5.33 | 86 | 2,404,565 (38.6%) |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | 145,995 (2.7%) | -1,805 | 22.7 | 5.81 | 76 | 2,027,301 (36.8%) |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 | 105,568 (2.4%) | 83,013 | 22.8 | 6.36 | 61 | 1,571,832 (35.5%) |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 | 6,074 (0.2%) | -112,857 | 23.2 | 6.56 | 58 | 1,441,883 (34.5%) |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 | 162,791 (3.9%) | 131,587 | 23.5 | 6.57 | 58 | 1,404,147 (33.5%) |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 | 79,680 (2.2%) | -7,873 | 23.9 | 6.59 | 50 | 1,167,994 (32.1%) |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 | 64,590 (2.0%) | -11,641 | 24.2 | 6.56 | 45 | 988,597 (30.2%) |
| 1975 | 2,974,657 | 54,198 (1.8%) | -13,058 | 24.5 | 6.55 | 41 | 826,920 (27.8%) |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 | 50,921 (1.9%) | -4,957 | 24.8 | 6.41 | 38 | 660,725 (24.4%) |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 | 44,276 (1.8%) | -1,851 | 25.0 | 6.31 | 34 | 502,156 (20.3%) |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 | 35,871 (1.6%) | -3,528 | 25.1 | 6.18 | 32 | 395,403 (17.4%) |
In 2025 the population of Sierra Leone was 8,819,794 and the average age decreased from 25.1 in 1960 to 24.5. Urban population has increased from 1,571,832 (35.5%) in 2000 to 4,183,638 (46.5%) in the current year. The population density of Sierra Leone has changed from 45.3 in 1980 to 119.7 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 1,292 | 23.7 | 4.08 | 110 | 3,419,251 (43.2%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -11,309 | 24.5 | 3.63 | 123 | 4,050,647 (45.9%) |
| 2030 | 9,694,858 | 174,041 (1.8%) | -13,030 | 25.4 | 3.24 | 135 | 4,741,837 (48.9%) |
| 2035 | 10,563,167 | 171,677 (1.6%) | -11,108 | 26.5 | 2.97 | 147 | 5,511,243 (52.2%) |
| 2040 | 11,398,400 | 168,339 (1.5%) | -7,726 | 27.5 | 2.76 | 159 | 6,351,834 (55.7%) |
| 2045 | 12,208,880 | 159,454 (1.3%) | -14,090 | 28.7 | 2.59 | 170 | 7,273,362 (59.6%) |
| 2050 | 12,948,325 | 143,183 (1.1%) | -12,333 | 29.8 | 2.45 | 181 | 8,251,867 (63.7%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 66.0 (63.9 years for male and 68.1 years for females). Population density will go up to 180.5 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 2.01% (177,772 residents, including 70,960 deaths). The demographics of Sierra Leone constitutes of 4,509,114 women and 4,487,631 men, which means there are 995 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 48.1% of population (4,325,635) is 19 or younger, 48.6% of population (4,370,619) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.3% of population (299,592) is over 65.