Sierra Leone Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in Sierra Leone, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Sierra Leone was 21.1 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had decreased to 20.5 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 73rd for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Sierra Leone ranks 161st currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Sierra Leone is expected to increase to 38.3 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Sierra Leone
	Male	Female
80+	0.15%	0.22%
75-79	0.24%	0.31%
70-74	0.4%	0.51%
65-69	0.65%	0.77%
60-64	0.94%	1.05%
55-59	1.25%	1.34%
50-54	1.59%	1.66%
45-49	1.99%	2.03%
40-44	2.45%	2.45%
35-39	2.96%	2.95%
30-34	3.52%	3.5%
25-29	4.17%	4.17%
20-24	4.9%	4.84%
15-19	5.48%	5.41%
10-14	6.01%	5.94%
5-9	6.32%	6.24%
0-4	6.85%	6.72%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Sierra Leone has average demographic potential with 74.1% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 32/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Sierra Leone	World
2100	65.6%	59.6%
2099	65.7%	59.6%
2098	65.8%	59.7%
2097	65.9%	59.7%
2096	66%	59.7%
2095	66%	59.7%
2094	66.1%	59.7%
2093	66.2%	59.8%
2092	66.3%	59.8%
2091	66.4%	59.8%
2090	66.4%	59.8%
2089	66.5%	59.8%
2088	66.6%	59.8%
2087	66.7%	59.8%
2086	66.7%	59.8%
2085	66.8%	59.9%
2084	66.9%	59.9%
2083	66.9%	60%
2082	67%	60.1%
2081	67%	60.3%
2080	67.1%	60.4%
2079	67.1%	60.6%
2078	67.2%	60.7%
2077	67.3%	60.9%
2076	67.3%	61%
2075	67.4%	61.1%
2074	67.5%	61.3%
2073	67.5%	61.4%
2072	67.6%	61.5%
2071	67.6%	61.6%
2070	67.6%	61.7%
2069	67.6%	61.8%
2068	67.7%	61.9%
2067	67.7%	62%
2066	67.7%	62%
2065	67.7%	62.1%
2064	67.7%	62.1%
2063	67.6%	62.1%
2062	67.6%	62.2%
2061	67.6%	62.2%
2060	67.5%	62.3%
2059	67.4%	62.3%
2058	67.3%	62.4%
2057	67.2%	62.4%
2056	67.1%	62.5%
2055	67%	62.7%
2054	66.8%	62.8%
2053	66.7%	62.9%
2052	66.5%	63.1%
2051	66.4%	63.2%
2050	66.2%	63.4%
2049	66%	63.5%
2048	65.8%	63.6%
2047	65.6%	63.8%
2046	65.4%	63.9%
2045	65.2%	64%
2044	65%	64.1%
2043	64.7%	64.2%
2042	64.5%	64.3%
2041	64.2%	64.4%
2040	63.9%	64.5%
2039	63.6%	64.7%
2038	63.3%	64.8%
2037	63%	64.9%
2036	62.7%	65.1%
2035	62.4%	65.2%
2034	62%	65.3%
2033	61.7%	65.4%
2032	61.4%	65.4%
2031	61.1%	65.4%
2030	60.7%	65.4%
2029	60.4%	65.4%
2028	60.1%	65.4%
2027	59.7%	65.4%
2026	59.3%	65.2%
2025	58.9%	65.1%
2024	58.7%	65.1%
2023	58.3%	65%
2022	57.8%	64.9%
2021	57.4%	64.9%
2020	57%	64.8%
2019	56.7%	64.9%
2018	56.3%	64.9%
2017	55.8%	65%
2016	55.4%	65.1%
2015	55%	65.1%
2014	54.6%	65.2%
2013	54.2%	65.2%
2012	53.9%	65.2%
2011	53.7%	65.2%
2010	53.5%	65.1%
2009	53.3%	65%
2008	53.2%	64.9%
2007	53%	64.7%
2006	52.9%	64.5%
2005	52.8%	64.3%
2004	52.7%	64%
2003	52.6%	63.7%
2002	52.6%	63.4%
2001	52.6%	63.1%
2000	52.6%	62.8%
1999	52.7%	62.5%
1998	52.7%	62.2%
1997	52.8%	61.9%
1996	52.8%	61.7%
1995	52.9%	61.5%
1994	52.9%	61.3%
1993	53%	61.2%
1992	53%	61.1%
1991	53.1%	61%
1990	53.1%	60.9%
1989	53.2%	60.8%
1988	53.2%	60.7%
1987	53.3%	60.5%
1986	53.4%	60.4%
1985	53.5%	60.1%
1984	53.6%	59.9%
1983	53.7%	59.6%
1982	53.7%	59.3%
1981	53.8%	59%
1980	53.9%	58.7%
1979	54%	58.4%
1978	54.1%	58%
1977	54.3%	57.7%
1976	54.4%	57.5%
1975	54.6%	57.4%
1974	54.7%	57.3%
1973	54.9%	57.3%
1972	55.1%	57.2%
1971	55.3%	57.1%
1970	55.5%	57%
1969	55.8%	56.9%
1968	56%	56.9%
1967	56.3%	56.9%
1966	56.6%	56.8%
1965	56.9%	56.9%
1964	57.2%	57%
1963	57.6%	57.2%
1962	57.8%	57.4%
1961	57.9%	57.5%
1960	58%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Sierra Leone changed from 52.7% to 58.7% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Sierra Leone decreased from 89.7% to 70.4% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an decreased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	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 decreased from 43.9% to 38.1% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Sierra Leone	World
2100	15.4%	23.9%
2099	15.2%	23.8%
2098	15%	23.7%
2097	14.9%	23.6%
2096	14.7%	23.5%
2095	14.5%	23.4%
2094	14.3%	23.4%
2093	14.1%	23.3%
2092	13.9%	23.2%
2091	13.8%	23.1%
2090	13.6%	23.1%
2089	13.4%	23%
2088	13.2%	22.9%
2087	13%	22.8%
2086	12.7%	22.7%
2085	12.5%	22.6%
2084	12.3%	22.5%
2083	12.1%	22.4%
2082	11.9%	22.2%
2081	11.7%	22%
2080	11.5%	21.8%
2079	11.3%	21.6%
2078	11.1%	21.4%
2077	10.8%	21.2%
2076	10.6%	21%
2075	10.4%	20.8%
2074	10.1%	20.6%
2073	9.88%	20.4%
2072	9.65%	20.3%
2071	9.42%	20.1%
2070	9.2%	19.9%
2069	8.98%	19.8%
2068	8.75%	19.6%
2067	8.52%	19.5%
2066	8.29%	19.3%
2065	8.07%	19.2%
2064	7.85%	19.1%
2063	7.63%	18.9%
2062	7.42%	18.8%
2061	7.22%	18.6%
2060	7.04%	18.5%
2059	6.85%	18.3%
2058	6.67%	18.1%
2057	6.49%	17.9%
2056	6.33%	17.7%
2055	6.17%	17.5%
2054	6.01%	17.2%
2053	5.86%	17%
2052	5.71%	16.7%
2051	5.57%	16.4%
2050	5.43%	16.2%
2049	5.29%	16%
2048	5.16%	15.8%
2047	5.03%	15.5%
2046	4.92%	15.3%
2045	4.8%	15.1%
2044	4.69%	14.9%
2043	4.58%	14.8%
2042	4.48%	14.6%
2041	4.38%	14.4%
2040	4.29%	14.2%
2039	4.19%	14%
2038	4.11%	13.8%
2037	4.03%	13.5%
2036	3.95%	13.3%
2035	3.87%	13%
2034	3.8%	12.7%
2033	3.72%	12.4%
2032	3.65%	12.2%
2031	3.59%	11.9%
2030	3.52%	11.6%
2029	3.46%	11.3%
2028	3.41%	11%
2027	3.35%	10.7%
2026	3.31%	10.5%
2025	3.26%	10.3%
2024	3.24%	10.2%
2023	3.21%	9.98%
2022	3.18%	9.74%
2021	3.15%	9.53%
2020	3.14%	9.33%
2019	3.14%	9.1%
2018	3.13%	8.88%
2017	3.13%	8.65%
2016	3.14%	8.45%
2015	3.15%	8.26%
2014	3.19%	8.08%
2013	3.23%	7.92%
2012	3.26%	7.78%
2011	3.27%	7.66%
2010	3.28%	7.58%
2009	3.3%	7.52%
2008	3.31%	7.47%
2007	3.33%	7.41%
2006	3.35%	7.34%
2005	3.38%	7.26%
2004	3.41%	7.18%
2003	3.44%	7.1%
2002	3.47%	7.01%
2001	3.5%	6.92%
2000	3.54%	6.84%
1999	3.58%	6.76%
1998	3.62%	6.68%
1997	3.67%	6.61%
1996	3.71%	6.53%
1995	3.75%	6.45%
1994	3.79%	6.37%
1993	3.83%	6.29%
1992	3.87%	6.21%
1991	3.91%	6.14%
1990	3.94%	6.07%
1989	3.97%	6.01%
1988	3.99%	5.95%
1987	4.02%	5.91%
1986	4.04%	5.86%
1985	4.06%	5.82%
1984	4.08%	5.8%
1983	4.1%	5.79%
1982	4.12%	5.8%
1981	4.13%	5.81%
1980	4.14%	5.81%
1979	4.15%	5.77%
1978	4.15%	5.71%
1977	4.16%	5.65%
1976	4.16%	5.59%
1975	4.16%	5.53%
1974	4.16%	5.47%
1973	4.16%	5.42%
1972	4.15%	5.37%
1971	4.14%	5.32%
1970	4.13%	5.28%
1969	4.11%	5.24%
1968	4.09%	5.2%
1967	4.07%	5.16%
1966	4.05%	5.12%
1965	4.02%	5.08%
1964	3.99%	5.04%
1963	3.95%	5.02%
1962	3.91%	5.01%
1961	3.87%	4.99%
1960	3.82%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Sierra Leone decreased from 3.41% to 3.24% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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