Sierra Leone birth & fertility rate charts by year

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone by year

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Sierra Leone is 3.79, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 6.57 — a 42.3% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Sierra Leone (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.31% annually. On average, 176,404 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.23% — 188,788 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Sierra Leone ranks 62/196 for absolute natural population change and 36/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates by women's age

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Sierra Leone by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 16.3% will be to women under age 20, 52.5% to women ages 20-29, and 31.2% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 18%, 46.4%, and 35.6%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
	Sierra Leone	World
2100	19%	16.5%
2099	19%	16.6%
2098	19.1%	16.6%
2097	19.2%	16.7%
2096	19.3%	16.8%
2095	19.5%	16.8%
2094	19.6%	16.9%
2093	19.7%	17%
2092	19.8%	17%
2091	19.9%	17.1%
2090	20%	17.2%
2089	20.1%	17.2%
2088	20.3%	17.3%
2087	20.4%	17.4%
2086	20.5%	17.4%
2085	20.7%	17.5%
2084	20.8%	17.5%
2083	20.9%	17.6%
2082	21.1%	17.7%
2081	21.2%	17.7%
2080	21.4%	17.8%
2079	21.6%	17.8%
2078	21.7%	17.9%
2077	21.9%	17.9%
2076	22.1%	18%
2075	22.2%	18%
2074	22.4%	18.1%
2073	22.6%	18.2%
2072	22.8%	18.2%
2071	23%	18.3%
2070	23.2%	18.3%
2069	23.4%	18.4%
2068	23.6%	18.5%
2067	23.8%	18.6%
2066	24%	18.6%
2065	24.3%	18.7%
2064	24.5%	18.8%
2063	24.7%	18.9%
2062	25%	19.1%
2061	25.2%	19.2%
2060	25.5%	19.3%
2059	25.7%	19.4%
2058	26%	19.5%
2057	26.3%	19.6%
2056	26.6%	19.8%
2055	26.9%	19.9%
2054	27.1%	20%
2053	27.4%	20.1%
2052	27.7%	20.2%
2051	28.1%	20.3%
2050	28.4%	20.4%
2049	28.7%	20.5%
2048	29%	20.6%
2047	29.3%	20.7%
2046	29.7%	20.8%
2045	30%	20.9%
2044	30.3%	20.9%
2043	30.7%	21%
2042	31.1%	21.1%
2041	31.4%	21.2%
2040	31.8%	21.2%
2039	32.2%	21.3%
2038	32.6%	21.4%
2037	33%	21.5%
2036	33.4%	21.6%
2035	33.8%	21.8%
2034	34.2%	22%
2033	34.6%	22.2%
2032	35%	22.4%
2031	35.4%	22.7%
2030	35.7%	23%
2029	36.1%	23.3%
2028	36.5%	23.6%
2027	37%	23.9%
2026	37.4%	24.2%
2025	37.9%	24.6%
2024	38.1%	24.7%
2023	38.5%	25%
2022	39%	25.3%
2021	39.4%	25.6%
2020	39.8%	25.8%
2019	40.2%	26%
2018	40.6%	26.2%
2017	41%	26.4%
2016	41.4%	26.5%
2015	41.8%	26.6%
2014	42.2%	26.8%
2013	42.5%	26.9%
2012	42.8%	27%
2011	43%	27.1%
2010	43.2%	27.3%
2009	43.4%	27.5%
2008	43.5%	27.6%
2007	43.6%	27.9%
2006	43.7%	28.1%
2005	43.8%	28.5%
2004	43.9%	28.8%
2003	43.9%	29.2%
2002	43.9%	29.6%
2001	43.9%	30%
2000	43.8%	30.4%
1999	43.7%	30.8%
1998	43.6%	31.1%
1997	43.5%	31.5%
1996	43.5%	31.8%
1995	43.4%	32.1%
1994	43.3%	32.3%
1993	43.2%	32.5%
1992	43.1%	32.7%
1991	43%	32.9%
1990	42.9%	33%
1989	42.9%	33.2%
1988	42.8%	33.4%
1987	42.7%	33.6%
1986	42.6%	33.8%
1985	42.5%	34%
1984	42.3%	34.3%
1983	42.2%	34.6%
1982	42.1%	34.9%
1981	42%	35.2%
1980	41.9%	35.5%
1979	41.8%	35.9%
1978	41.7%	36.3%
1977	41.6%	36.7%
1976	41.4%	36.9%
1975	41.3%	37.1%
1974	41.1%	37.2%
1973	40.9%	37.3%
1972	40.7%	37.5%
1971	40.6%	37.6%
1970	40.3%	37.7%
1969	40.1%	37.8%
1968	39.9%	37.9%
1967	39.6%	38%
1966	39.4%	38%
1965	39.1%	38%
1964	38.8%	38%
1963	38.5%	37.8%
1962	38.3%	37.6%
1961	38.3%	37.5%
1960	38.2%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Sierra Leone was 38.2% in 1960, 43.1% in 1992, and 38.1% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Sierra Leone.

Maternal mortality by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

World's average

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Sierra Leone	World
2023	354	197
2022	370	203
2021	403	242
2020	422	211
2019	464	207
2018	491	211
2017	578	215
2016	633	220
2015	730	228
2014	821	231
2013	842	235
2012	915	239
2011	967	247
2010	1,018	253
2009	1,054	258
2008	1,093	264
2007	1,132	269
2006	1,168	276
2005	1,294	283
2004	1,366	291
2003	1,433	301
2002	1,492	311
2001	1,518	321
2000	1,603	328
1999	1,731	340
1998	1,753	360
1997	1,721	358
1996	1,726	366
1995	1,777	371
1994	1,755	382
1993	1,696	389
1992	1,681	395
1991	1,699	395
1990	1,572	391
1989	1,575	401
1988	1,549	414
1987	1,533	429
1986	1,530	438
1985	1,506	460

The maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone was 354 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.35% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 77.9% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

World's average

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Sierra Leone	World
2023	9.43%	2.49%
2022	9.77%	2.59%
2021	10.1%	2.66%
2020	10.5%	2.75%
2019	10.9%	2.86%
2018	11.3%	2.97%
2017	11.8%	3.11%
2016	12.3%	3.22%
2015	13.8%	3.35%
2014	13.7%	3.48%
2013	13.9%	3.61%
2012	14.5%	3.77%
2011	15.2%	3.97%
2010	15.9%	4.11%
2009	16.6%	4.31%
2008	17.3%	4.5%
2007	18.1%	4.7%
2006	18.8%	4.92%
2005	19.4%	5.16%
2004	20.1%	5.43%
2003	20.7%	5.65%
2002	21.3%	5.94%
2001	21.8%	6.21%
2000	22.4%	6.48%
1999	22.9%	6.75%
1998	23.4%	7.05%
1997	23.9%	7.28%
1996	24.3%	7.52%
1995	24.7%	7.76%
1994	25%	7.98%
1993	25.3%	8.19%
1992	25.5%	8.46%
1991	25.7%	8.66%
1990	25.9%	8.81%
1989	26.2%	9.02%
1988	26.4%	9.31%
1987	26.6%	9.47%
1986	26.9%	9.81%
1985	27.2%	10.1%
1984	27.5%	10.4%
1983	27.8%	10.6%
1982	28.1%	10.8%
1981	28.5%	11%
1980	28.9%	11.4%
1979	29.2%	11.7%
1978	29.6%	12.2%
1977	30%	12.6%
1976	30.5%	13%
1975	30.9%	13.4%
1974	31.4%	13.8%
1973	31.9%	14.1%
1972	32.3%	14.5%
1971	32.9%	15.1%
1970	33.4%	15.2%
1969	33.9%	15.4%
1968	34.5%	15.6%
1967	35%	15.9%
1966	35.6%	16.1%
1965	36.2%	16.4%
1964	36.8%	16.6%
1963	37.4%	16.5%
1962	38%	16.7%
1961	38.5%	17%
1960	39.1%	17.2%

The under-5 mortality rate in Sierra Leone was 94.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 9.43% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 223.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.