COUNTRY PROFILE / SLE

SL

Sierra Leone

Compare Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a World Bank reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa . Its reported capital is Freetown. Explore its demographic, economic and social trends using 15 available indicators.

Sub-Saharan Africa Low incomeLatest observations: 2022–2025

Latest country indicators

What changed?

A decade of change, measured from each indicator’s latest available year.

Population

+25.3%2015 → 2025

GDP per capita

-12.3%2015 → 2025

Internet adoption

+19 percentage points2014 → 2024

Life expectancy

+7.7 years2014 → 2024

Changes describe direction, not performance. Percentage-point differences apply to percentage indicators; currency changes use current US dollars.

THE LONG VIEW

Sierra Leone, through the years

Explore each indicator. Select a time range or open the underlying data table.

Demographics

Demographics / people

Population in Sierra Leone

8.8MLatest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Population changed by +25.3% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Population·people· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20258,819,794
20248,642,022
20238,460,512
20228,276,807
20218,094,602
20207,912,558
20197,731,991
20187,554,563
20177,379,299
20167,205,328
20157,037,655
20146,876,385
20136,714,051
20126,551,080
20116,387,251
20106,222,714
20096,055,646
20085,894,722
20075,749,352
20065,624,466
20055,501,712
20045,355,717
20035,177,687
20024,971,435
20014,692,716
20004,423,611
19994,318,043
19984,295,785
19974,253,716
19964,199,210
19954,179,179
19944,173,105
19934,157,130
19924,166,366
19914,246,267
19904,196,828
19894,034,037
19883,934,517
19873,829,718
19863,728,380
19853,638,438
19843,558,758
19833,481,646
19823,408,183
19813,338,940
19803,272,089
19793,207,499
19783,145,517
19773,085,354
19763,028,820
19752,974,657
19742,920,459
19732,866,955
19722,814,388
19712,763,222
19702,712,286
19692,661,365
19682,611,532
19672,562,384
19662,514,638
19652,468,666
19642,424,390
19632,382,258
19622,342,242
19612,304,227
19602,268,356

The total number of residents, based on the de facto definition of population and midyear estimates. Explore population across countries →

Demographics / %

Population growth in Sierra Leone

2%Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

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Population growth changed by -0.3 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Population growth·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20252.04%
20242.12%
20232.2%
20222.23%
20212.27%
20202.31%
20192.32%
20182.35%
20172.39%
20162.35%
20152.32%
20142.39%
20132.46%
20122.53%
20112.61%
20102.72%
20092.69%
20082.5%
20072.2%
20062.21%
20052.69%
20043.38%
20034.06%
20025.77%
20015.91%
20002.42%
19990.52%
19980.98%
19971.29%
19960.48%
19950.15%
19940.38%
1993-0.22%
1992-1.9%
19911.17%
19903.96%
19892.5%
19882.7%
19872.68%
19862.44%
19852.21%
19842.19%
19832.13%
19822.05%
19812.02%
19801.99%
19791.95%
19781.93%
19771.85%
19761.8%
19751.84%
19741.85%
19731.85%
19721.83%
19711.86%
19701.9%
19691.89%
19681.9%
19671.88%
19661.85%
19651.81%
19641.75%
19631.69%
19621.64%
19611.57%

The annual exponential rate of growth in the midyear population, expressed as a percentage. Explore population growth across countries →

Demographics / %

Urban population in Sierra Leone

45.9%Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

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Urban population changed by +5.2 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Urban population·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
202545.93%
202445.36%
202344.81%
202244.27%
202143.73%
202043.21%
201942.7%
201842.2%
201741.71%
201641.23%
201540.77%
201440.33%
201339.89%
201239.46%
201139.05%
201038.64%
200938.25%
200837.87%
200737.51%
200637.17%
200536.85%
200436.55%
200336.27%
200236.01%
200135.76%
200035.53%
199935.31%
199835.1%
199734.9%
199634.7%
199534.5%
199434.3%
199334.1%
199233.9%
199133.68%
199033.46%
198933.22%
198832.97%
198732.7%
198632.41%
198532.1%
198431.77%
198331.41%
198231.03%
198130.63%
198030.21%
197929.77%
197829.31%
197728.82%
197628.32%
197527.8%
197427.24%
197326.62%
197225.92%
197125.16%
197024.36%
196923.54%
196822.7%
196721.88%
196621.09%
196520.34%
196419.65%
196319.05%
196218.5%
196117.96%
196017.43%

The share of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by national statistical offices. Explore urban population across countries →

Demographics / births per woman

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone

3.7 birthsLatest available · 2024
Sierra Leone

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Fertility rate changed by -1 births per woman between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Fertility rate·births per woman· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20243.7 births
20233.79 births
20223.88 births
20213.98 births
20204.08 births
20194.19 births
20184.29 births
20174.39 births
20164.47 births
20154.55 births
20144.7 births
20134.87 births
20125.06 births
20115.21 births
20105.33 births
20095.45 births
20085.56 births
20075.64 births
20065.74 births
20055.81 births
20045.92 births
20036.09 births
20026.23 births
20016.31 births
20006.36 births
19996.42 births
19986.5 births
19976.53 births
19966.55 births
19956.56 births
19946.56 births
19936.57 births
19926.56 births
19916.55 births
19906.57 births
19896.57 births
19886.59 births
19876.61 births
19866.6 births
19856.59 births
19846.59 births
19836.57 births
19826.56 births
19816.55 births
19806.56 births
19796.58 births
19786.59 births
19776.57 births
19766.55 births
19756.55 births
19746.53 births
19736.47 births
19726.45 births
19716.43 births
19706.41 births
19696.39 births
19686.39 births
19676.38 births
19666.35 births
19656.31 births
19646.29 births
19636.26 births
19626.22 births
19616.21 births
19606.18 births

The number of children a woman would have if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates throughout her childbearing years. Explore fertility rate across countries →

Economy

Economy / USD

GDP in Sierra Leone

$7.5BLatest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

GDP changed by +10% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP·USD· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
2025$7,464,157,904.44
2024$6,971,127,234.07
2023$6,415,852,766.09
2022$7,121,125,277.18
2021$7,166,931,483.3
2020$6,688,307,705.64
2019$6,523,577,590.38
2018$6,390,514,688.53
2017$5,749,846,528.48
2016$6,084,297,211.1
2015$6,788,352,974.78
2014$7,686,138,790.91
2013$7,502,762,862.73
2012$6,141,666,509.36
2011$4,861,632,884.68
2010$4,262,805,966.79
2009$3,953,403,098.37
2008$4,157,895,298.2
2007$3,632,957,611.35
2006$3,263,697,466.74
2005$2,545,275,312.61
2004$2,237,350,687.47
2003$2,142,618,045.93
2002$1,933,863,910.73
2001$1,681,473,893.77
2000$635,866,403.78
1999$669,386,623.95
1998$672,368,187.11
1997$850,232,760.02
1996$941,709,422.5
1995$870,740,291.52
1994$911,853,802.37
1993$768,867,882.97
1992$679,940,813.95
1991$779,981,987.11
1990$649,644,097.57
1989$932,974,420.28
1988$1,055,083,933.07
1987$660,106,336.1
1986$490,181,456.62
1985$856,890,459.36
1984$1,087,471,861.99
1983$995,104,305.35
1982$1,295,361,885.92
1981$1,114,830,471.92
1980$1,100,685,844.92
1979$1,109,374,911.3
1978$960,728,338.94
1977$691,777,583.95
1976$594,895,941.91
1975$679,336,343.58
1974$648,590,642.94
1973$575,230,724.38
1972$465,381,339.74
1971$419,549,304.72
1970$434,410,973.76
1969$408,690,163.48
1968$329,859,731.94
1967$348,795,303
1966$375,479,849.81
1965$359,379,856.25
1964$371,847,461.44
1963$348,547,278.79
1962$342,721,416.49
1961$327,834,190.58
1960$322,009,961.55

Gross domestic product measures the value of goods and services produced in an economy, in current US dollars. Explore gdp across countries →

Economy / USD

GDP per capita in Sierra Leone

$846.3Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

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GDP per capita changed by -12.3% between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP per capita·USD· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
2025$846.3
2024$806.65
2023$758.33
2022$860.37
2021$885.4
2020$845.28
2019$843.71
2018$845.91
2017$779.19
2016$844.42
2015$964.58
2014$1,117.76
2013$1,117.47
2012$937.5
2011$761.15
2010$685.04
2009$652.85
2008$705.36
2007$631.89
2006$580.27
2005$462.63
2004$417.75
2003$413.82
2002$389
2001$358.32
2000$143.74
1999$155.02
1998$156.52
1997$199.88
1996$224.26
1995$208.35
1994$218.51
1993$184.95
1992$163.2
1991$183.69
1990$154.79
1989$231.28
1988$268.16
1987$172.36
1986$131.47
1985$235.51
1984$305.58
1983$285.81
1982$380.07
1981$333.89
1980$336.39
1979$345.87
1978$305.43
1977$224.21
1976$196.41
1975$228.37
1974$222.09
1973$200.64
1972$165.36
1971$151.83
1970$160.16
1969$153.56
1968$126.31
1967$136.12
1966$149.32
1965$145.58
1964$153.38
1963$146.31
1962$146.32
1961$142.28
1960$141.96

Gross domestic product divided by the midyear population, expressed in current US dollars. Explore gdp per capita across countries →

Economy / %

GDP growth in Sierra Leone

4.6%Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

GDP growth changed by +9 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
GDP growth·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20254.61%
20244.29%
20235.71%
20225.31%
20215.9%
2020-1.25%
20195.5%
20182.89%
20173.21%
20166.44%
2015-4.36%
2014-7.82%
201314.66%
201210.58%
20118.1%
20106.36%
20091.53%
20083.69%
20073.75%
20064.28%
20054.35%
20046.48%
20039.48%
200226.52%
2001-6.35%
20006.65%
1999-1.98%
19981.79%
1997-5.88%
19961.75%
1995-8%
1994-1.95%
19931.37%
1992-19.01%
19912.35%
19903.35%
19890.73%
1988-7.08%
19877.23%
19861.24%
1985-5.31%
19844.09%
1983-2.1%
19824.78%
19812.88%
19804.84%
19794.51%
19782.41%
19770.05%
1976-0.45%
19751.67%
19743.5%
19732.26%
19720.9%
19713.47%
19708.62%
19698.53%
19682.02%
19670.04%
19661.7%
19657.18%
19646.69%
19631.7%
19624.54%
19611.81%

Annual percentage growth of GDP at market prices based on constant local currency. Explore gdp growth across countries →

Economy / %

Inflation in Sierra Leone

7.5%Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

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Inflation changed by +0.8 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Inflation·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20257.49%
202428.63%
202347.64%
202227.21%
202111.87%
202013.45%
201914.8%
201816.03%
201718.22%
201610.89%
20156.69%
20144.64%
20135.52%
20126.59%
20116.79%
20107.19%
20097.47%
20088.21%
200711.65%

The annual percentage change in the cost of a basket of goods and services for the average consumer. Explore inflation across countries →

Economy / %

Unemployment in Sierra Leone

3.2%Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

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Unemployment changed by -1.3 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Unemployment·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20253.15%
20243.1%
20233.09%
20223.14%
20213.55%
20203.51%
20193.2%
20183.19%
20173.66%
20164.18%
20154.48%
20144.68%
20134.38%
20124.38%
20114.39%
20104.34%
20094.27%
20084.13%
20074.02%
20063.89%
20053.73%
20043.42%
20033.88%
20023.91%
20014.24%
20004.14%
19994.29%
19984.24%
19974.36%
19964.31%
19954.32%
19944.46%
19934.4%
19924.38%
19914.14%

The share of the labor force without work but available for and seeking employment, using modeled ILO estimates. Explore unemployment across countries →

Health

Health / years

Life expectancy in Sierra Leone

62 yearsLatest available · 2024
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Life expectancy changed by +7.7 years between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Life expectancy·years· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
202461.96 years
202361.79 years
202261.28 years
202160.26 years
202059.69 years
201959.59 years
201859.06 years
201757.76 years
201656.94 years
201555.45 years
201454.28 years
201354.05 years
201253.16 years
201152.59 years
201051.93 years
200951.31 years
200850.69 years
200750.02 years
200649.55 years
200548.31 years
200447.49 years
200346.78 years
200246.17 years
200145.45 years
200044.83 years
199941.96 years
199842.71 years
199743.65 years
199643.53 years
199542.58 years
199442.81 years
199343.43 years
199243.45 years
199143.29 years
199043.72 years
198943.74 years
198843.77 years
198743.75 years
198643.5 years
198543.56 years
198443.56 years
198343.46 years
198243.3 years
198143.09 years
198042.84 years
197942.53 years
197842.19 years
197741.83 years
197641.43 years
197540.99 years
197440.41 years
197339.96 years
197239.51 years
197139.1 years
197038.62 years
196938.23 years
196837.76 years
196737.28 years
196636.64 years
196535.93 years
196435.3 years
196334.71 years
196234.16 years
196133.63 years
196033.09 years

The years a newborn would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at birth remained the same throughout life. Explore life expectancy across countries →

Health / %

Health expenditure in Sierra Leone

4.7%Latest available · 2023
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Health expenditure changed by -3.7 percentage points between 2013 and 2023.

View data table
Health expenditure·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
20234.72%
20224.8%
20215.07%
20205.66%
20195.71%
20185.3%
20176.01%
201610.05%
201512.38%
201415.12%
20138.46%
20125.93%
20116.61%
20105.64%
20096.27%
20085.6%
20075.32%
20065.3%
20055.23%
20045.24%
20035.06%
20025.55%
20015.22%
20005.29%

Current health expenditure as a share of GDP, including public and private spending on healthcare goods and services. Explore health expenditure across countries →

Technology

Technology / %

Internet adoption in Sierra Leone

25.1%Latest available · 2024
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Internet adoption changed by +19 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Internet adoption·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
202425.1%
202323.71%
202221.51%
202118.65%
202017.12%
201915.71%
201814.42%
20179.3%
20167.68%
20156.34%
20146.06%
20134%
20122.5%
20110.9%
20100.58%
20090.26%
20080.25%
20070.24%
20060.23%
20050.22%
20040.2%
20030.19%
20020.18%
20010.16%
20000.12%
19990.05%
19980.01%
19970%
19960%
19950%
19940%
19930%
19900%

The percentage of individuals who have used the Internet from any location in the last three months. Explore internet adoption across countries →

Environment

Environment / %

Renewable energy in Sierra Leone

71.6%Latest available · 2022
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Renewable energy changed by -7.5 percentage points between 2012 and 2022.

View data table
Renewable energy·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
202271.6%
202171.1%
202075.1%
201975.4%
201875.9%
201774.6%
201673.6%
201574%
201473%
201374.6%
201279.1%
201181%
201084.9%
200986.1%
200886%
200786.3%
200684.4%
200588.1%
200486.5%
200386.5%
200288%
200191.2%
200093.3%
199995%
199894.6%
199794.5%
199694.3%
199593.8%
199492.7%
199393%
199292.5%
199191.8%
199092.3%

Renewable energy consumption as a share of total final energy consumption. Explore renewable energy across countries →

Environment / %

Access to electricity in Sierra Leone

39.2%Latest available · 2024
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Access to electricity changed by +20.4 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.

View data table
Access to electricity·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
202439.2%
202335.5%
202229.4%
202127.5%
202026.3%
201922.7%
201826.1%
201723.4%
201620.3%
201519.7%
201418.8%
201313.5%
201217.2%
201114.2%
201011.5%
200914.6%
200812.1%
200713%
200612.2%
200511.3%
200416.8%
20039.9%
20029.2%
20018.5%
20007.7%

The percentage of the population with access to electricity, based on household surveys and other sources. Explore access to electricity across countries →

Trade

Trade / %

Trade in Sierra Leone

49.1%Latest available · 2025
Sierra Leone

Interactive chart loading…

Trade changed by +12.6 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.

View data table
Trade·%· World Bank
YearSierra Leone
202549.1%
202440.55%
202355.29%
202245.05%
202142.14%
202030.61%
201937.56%
201837.38%
201741.52%
201643.07%
201536.48%
201451.12%
201353.36%
201253.38%
201143.78%
201027.95%
200923.08%
200821.26%
200721.81%
200622.09%
200547.55%
200446.17%
200346.45%
200238.92%
200135.94%
200057.53%
199933.75%
199835.33%
199728.28%
199649.6%
199545.03%
199455.16%
199352.86%
199264.49%
199160.24%
199068.69%
198941.59%
198843.12%
198755.15%
198626.93%
198531.43%
198423.03%
198333.11%
198241.69%
198162.75%
198061.08%
197946.99%
197843.83%
197746.45%
197650.47%
197559.58%
197450.23%
197348.04%
197256.81%
197163.65%
197060.3%
196952.82%
196850.53%
196758.39%
196659.4%
196560.15%
196458.59%

The sum of exports and imports of goods and services, measured as a share of gross domestic product. Explore trade across countries →

Source: World Bank · World Development IndicatorsRetrieved 2026-09-23

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