Sierra Leone
- Capital:
- Freetown
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Bo, Kenema, Western Area Rural
- Abbreviation:
- SLE
8,996,745
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
8,996,745
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Sierra Leone's population is projected to be 15,980,211 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8,996,745 | 2.14% | 101 |
| 2025 | 8,819,794 | 2.2% | 102 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | 2.33% | 102 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 | 2.35% | 102 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 | 2.38% | 102 |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 | 2.42% | 103 |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | 2.49% | 105 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | 2.49% | 107 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | 4.46% | 107 |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 | 1.14% | 115 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8,996,745 | 2.14% | 101 |
| 2032 | 10,047,200 | 1.83% | 97 |
| 2037 | 10,902,269 | 1.65% | 94 |
| 2042 | 11,728,791 | 1.47% | 92 |
| 2047 | 12,512,756 | 1.3% | 91 |
| 2052 | 13,236,024 | 1.13% | 89 |
| 2057 | 13,876,264 | 0.95% | 89 |
| 2062 | 14,435,385 | 0.79% | 89 |
| 2067 | 14,924,590 | 0.67% | 88 |
| 2072 | 15,321,993 | 0.53% | 87 |
850.2K
33.7K
67.3K
951.2K
Bo has a metropolitan area population of 951,244, comprising 10.57%% of Sierra Leone's total population.
As of 2026, Sierra Leone has a total population of 8,996,745, ranking as the 101st most populous nation in the world.
Sierra Leone has a net population change of approximately 483 people per day, driven by 715 births, 198 deaths, and net emigration of 34 people.
Sierra Leone represents 0.11% of the total global population and 0.57% of Africa's population.
Sierra Leone has a population density of 124.6 people per km² (approximately 322.8 per mi²), making it the 97th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 88.73% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 16, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Sierra Leone is Temne (35.5%) , followed by Mende (33.2%) .
As of 2026, Muslim is the largest religion in Sierra Leone, comprising 77.1% of the population.