Population of Sierra Leone: 8.8 million in 2025, ranking 100th of 217 countries. In 2010 it was 6.2 million.
Data last updated · Period: 2010–2025
Understanding the chart
The line chart above tracks population of Sierra Leone for each year from 2010 to 2025, 16 data points in all. Each dot is one year; the first and last years and the highest point are labelled with their values, and the vertical scale is in population. All values in this period were above zero. The data table below the chart lists every value, and you can download the data, embed the chart or share it from the buttons above. The figures cover 2010–2025 and come from World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
Key insights
- Between 2010 and 2025, Sierra Leone's population rose from 6.2 million to 8.8 million, a change of 41.7% (about 2.4% a year on average).
- The highest value in this period was 8.8 million in 2025; the lowest was 6.2 million in 2010.
- Recently, the figure has risen in each of the last two years (2024: 8.6 million; 2025: 8.8 million).
- Sierra Leone has the 100th-highest value of 217 countries with recent data.
- In Western Africa, Sierra Leone has the 10th-highest value of 16 countries with recent data; the highest is Nigeria (237.5 million), and the typical (median) value is 15.0 million.
Analysis
Averaged over periods, the figure was 6.6 million in 2010 to 2014, 7.4 million in 2015 to 2019 and 8.4 million in 2020 onwards. The value went up in 15 of the 15 year-to-year steps and down in 0. The biggest one-year rise came in 2023 (+183,705, or 2.2%). Across the period the values varied by about 11% around their average (7.5 million), a moderate amount of change.
What it means
For businesses and investors, the figure is most useful alongside related measures for the same country, such as growth, inflation, population and incomes, and compared with similar countries. Compared with its neighbours in Western Africa, where the typical value is 15.0 million, Sierra Leone is 41% lower than the regional median.
Related figures
- Population by country, 2025: 1.5 billion (highest: India). The total number of people living in the country, whatever their legal status or citizenship.
- Population of Benin, 2010–2025: 14.8 million (Population, 2025 · 75th of 217). Population of Benin: 14.8 million in 2025, ranking 75th of 217 countries.
- Population of Burkina Faso, 2010–2025: 24.1 million (Population, 2025 · 59th of 217). Population of Burkina Faso: 24.1 million in 2025, ranking 59th of 217 countries.
About this statistic
The total number of people living in the country, whatever their legal status or citizenship. The basic size of the potential customer base.
Population size, growth, age and urbanisation decide how many customers a market has, what they need, and where they live. The figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators, which compile official national statistics in a consistent form so countries can be compared.
Questions and answers
What is the population of Sierra Leone?
8.8 million (Population, 2025 · 100th of 217). Population of Sierra Leone: 8.8 million in 2025, ranking 100th of 217 countries. In 2010 it was 6.2 million.
How has population in Sierra Leone changed since 2010?
Between 2010 and 2025, Sierra Leone's population rose from 6.2 million to 8.8 million, a change of 41.7% (about 2.4% a year on average). The highest value in this period was 8.8 million in 2025; the lowest was 6.2 million in 2010.
Where does this data come from?
From World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), covering 2010–2025. The total number of people living in the country, whatever their legal status or citizenship. The basic size of the potential customer base.
Data
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.2 million |
| 2011 | 6.4 million |
| 2012 | 6.6 million |
| 2013 | 6.7 million |
| 2014 | 6.9 million |
| 2015 | 7.0 million |
| 2016 | 7.2 million |
| 2017 | 7.4 million |
| 2018 | 7.6 million |
| 2019 | 7.7 million |
| 2020 | 7.9 million |
| 2021 | 8.1 million |
| 2022 | 8.3 million |
| 2023 | 8.5 million |
| 2024 | 8.6 million |
| 2025 | 8.8 million |
Source and notes
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Period: 2010–2025. Coverage: Sierra Leone.
The total number of people living in the country, whatever their legal status or citizenship. The basic size of the potential customer base.
Cite this statistic
Please also credit the original source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).Related statistics
- Population by country, 2025
- Population of Benin, 2010–2025
- Population of Burkina Faso, 2010–2025
- Population of Côte d'Ivoire, 2010–2025
- Population of Cabo Verde, 2010–2025
- GDP of Sierra Leone, 2010–2025
- Economic growth (GDP growth) in Sierra Leone, 2010–2025
- GDP per person in Sierra Leone, 2010–2025
- GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP, international $) in Sierra Leone, 2010–2024
All Sierra Leone data: economy, people, jobs and digital in one place
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