Sierra Leone Population History
1960 - 2026
Sierra Leone's population has grown from 2,268,356 in 1960 to 8,460,512 in 2023, a total increase of 273.0% (3.73x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
2.3M
2023 Population
8.5M
Total Growth
273.0%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
2.3M
1970
2.7M
1980
3.3M
1990
4.2M
2000
4.4M
2010
6.2M
2020
7.9M
2023
8.5M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+1.71%
1965-1970
+1.90%
1970-1975
+1.86%
1975-1980
+1.92%
1980-1985
+2.15%
1985-1990
+2.90%
1990-1995
-0.08%
1995-2000
+1.14%
2000-2005
+4.46%
2005-2010
+2.49%
2010-2015
+2.49%
2015-2020
+2.37%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8,460,512 | +183,705 |
| 2022 | 8,276,807 | +182,205 |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 | +182,044 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | +180,567 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 | +177,428 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 | +175,264 |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 | +173,971 |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 | +167,673 |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | +161,270 |
| 2014 | 6,876,385 | +162,334 |
| 2013 | 6,714,051 | +162,971 |
| 2012 | 6,551,080 | +163,829 |
| 2011 | 6,387,251 | +164,537 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | +167,068 |
| 2009 | 6,055,646 | +160,924 |
| 2008 | 5,894,722 | +145,370 |
| 2007 | 5,749,352 | +124,886 |
| 2006 | 5,624,466 | +122,754 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | +145,995 |
| 2004 | 5,355,717 | +178,030 |
| 2003 | 5,177,687 | +206,252 |
| 2002 | 4,971,435 | +278,719 |
| 2001 | 4,692,716 | +269,105 |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 | +105,568 |
| 1999 | 4,318,043 | +22,258 |
| 1998 | 4,295,785 | +42,069 |
| 1997 | 4,253,716 | +54,506 |
| 1996 | 4,199,210 | +20,031 |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 | +6,074 |
| 1994 | 4,173,105 | +15,975 |
| 1993 | 4,157,130 | -9,236 |
| 1992 | 4,166,366 | -79,901 |
| 1991 | 4,246,267 | +49,439 |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 | +162,791 |
| 1989 | 4,034,037 | +99,520 |
| 1988 | 3,934,517 | +104,799 |
| 1987 | 3,829,718 | +101,338 |
| 1986 | 3,728,380 | +89,942 |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 | +79,680 |
| 1984 | 3,558,758 | +77,112 |
| 1983 | 3,481,646 | +73,463 |
| 1982 | 3,408,183 | +69,243 |
| 1981 | 3,338,940 | +66,851 |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 | +64,590 |
| 1979 | 3,207,499 | +61,982 |
| 1978 | 3,145,517 | +60,163 |
| 1977 | 3,085,354 | +56,534 |
| 1976 | 3,028,820 | +54,163 |
| 1975 | 2,974,657 | +54,198 |
| 1974 | 2,920,459 | +53,504 |
| 1973 | 2,866,955 | +52,567 |
| 1972 | 2,814,388 | +51,166 |
| 1971 | 2,763,222 | +50,936 |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 | +50,921 |
| 1969 | 2,661,365 | +49,833 |
| 1968 | 2,611,532 | +49,148 |
| 1967 | 2,562,384 | +47,746 |
| 1966 | 2,514,638 | +45,972 |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 | +44,276 |
| 1964 | 2,424,390 | +42,132 |
| 1963 | 2,382,258 | +40,016 |
| 1962 | 2,342,242 | +38,015 |
| 1961 | 2,304,227 | +35,871 |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 | — |