Sierra Leone has experienced steady population growth over the past several decades. According to United Nations estimates, the country’s population has increased from around 2.7 million in 1960 to approximately 8.9 million in 2023. This growth is driven by a relatively high birth rate, despite challenges such as civil conflict in the 1990s and public health crises like the Ebola outbreak in 2014. The population is predominantly young, with a median age of around 19 years, and urbanization is gradually increasing as more people move to cities like Freetown in search of better opportunities. While the growth presents opportunities for economic development, it also puts pressure on infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,087,055 | 29.1 |
| 1955 | 2,232,573 | 31.2 |
| 1960 | 2,396,304 | 33.5 |
| 1965 | 2,581,979 | 36.1 |
| 1970 | 2,789,306 | 38.9 |
| 1975 | 3,036,737 | 42.4 |
| 1980 | 3,376,787 | 47.1 |
| 1985 | 3,787,642 | 52.9 |
| 1990 | 4,359,370 | 60.9 |
| 1995 | 4,114,221 | 57.4 |
| 2000 | 4,184,096 | 58.4 |
| 2005 | 5,271,649 | 73.6 |
| 2010 | 6,121,737 | 85.5 |
| 2015 | 7,150,013 | 99.8 |
| 2020 | 8,256,139 | 115.3 |
| 2022 | 8,692,606 | 121.4 |
| 2023 | 8,908,040 | 124.4 |
| 2024 | 9,121,049 | 127.4 |
| 2025 | 9,331,203 | 130.3 |
| 2030 | 10,371,910 | 144.8 |
| 2035 | 11,399,388 | 159.2 |
| 2040 | 12,409,339 | 173.3 |
| 2045 | 13,398,620 | 187.1 |
| 2050 | 14,356,255 | 200.5 |
| 2055 | 15,277,606 | 213.3 |
| 2060 | 16,157,181 | 225.6 |
| 2065 | 16,978,613 | 237.1 |
| 2070 | 17,730,554 | 247.6 |
| 2075 | 18,405,056 | 257 |
| 2080 | 18,996,492 | 265.2 |
| 2085 | 19,500,818 | 272.3 |
| 2090 | 19,914,461 | 278.1 |
| 2095 | 20,233,769 | 282.5 |
| 2100 | 20,457,128 | 285.6 |
Data from US Census International Database