Sierra Leone is a low-income country with a population of 8.64M people. The capital and largest city is Freetown, with 951K residents. Sierra Leone shares land borders with Guinea and Liberia.
Sierra Leone ranks 157/197 by GDP ($7.55B) and 183/197 by GDP per capita ($873). The top export category is processed food, beverages & tobacco, while the top import is business & finance services.
Main facts and rankings
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
8961932
|
102/197 |
| GDP |
$7.55B
2024 |
157/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$873
2024 |
183/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$3,516
2024 |
171/197 |
| Government debt |
$3.25B
2024 |
153/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
44.3%
2025 |
118/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$376
2024 |
174/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,438
2025 |
136/197 |
| Land area | 27,869 sq mi | 116/197 |
| Population density | 310 ppl/mi² | 77/197 |
| Fertility rate | 3.79 | 35/196 |
| Median age | 20.5 years | 161/196 |
| Life expectancy | 62.2 years | 186/197 |
Sierra Leone trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 1960 | $322,151,961 |
| 1961 | $327,978,758 |
| 1962 | $342,872,549 |
| 1963 | $348,700,980 |
| 1964 | $372,011,438 |
| 1965 | $359,523,810 |
| 1966 | $375,630,252 |
| 1967 | $348,895,028 |
| 1968 | $329,991,597 |
| 1969 | $408,853,541 |
| 1970 | $434,584,634 |
| 1971 | $419,495,788 |
| 1972 | $465,254,682 |
| 1973 | $575,471,814 |
| 1974 | $648,940,351 |
| 1975 | $679,352,876 |
| 1976 | $594,810,422 |
| 1977 | $692,079,407 |
| 1978 | $960,765,043 |
| 1979 | $1,109,343,425 |
| 1980 | $1,100,476,190 |
| 1981 | $1,114,926,661 |
| 1982 | $1,294,995,964 |
| 1983 | $995,278,515 |
| 1984 | $1,087,450,199 |
| 1985 | $856,890,459 |
| 1986 | $490,181,457 |
| 1987 | $660,106,336 |
| 1988 | $1,055,083,933 |
| 1989 | $932,974,420 |
| 1990 | $649,644,098 |
| 1991 | $779,981,987 |
| 1992 | $679,940,814 |
| 1993 | $768,867,883 |
| 1994 | $911,853,802 |
| 1995 | $870,740,292 |
| 1996 | $941,709,423 |
| 1997 | $850,232,760 |
| 1998 | $672,368,187 |
| 1999 | $669,386,624 |
| 2000 | $635,866,404 |
| 2001 | $1,681,473,894 |
| 2002 | $1,933,863,911 |
| 2003 | $2,142,618,046 |
| 2004 | $2,237,350,687 |
| 2005 | $2,545,275,313 |
| 2006 | $3,263,697,467 |
| 2007 | $3,632,957,611 |
| 2008 | $4,157,895,298 |
| 2009 | $3,953,403,098 |
| 2010 | $4,262,805,967 |
| 2011 | $4,861,632,885 |
| 2012 | $6,141,666,509 |
| 2013 | $7,502,762,863 |
| 2014 | $7,686,138,791 |
| 2015 | $6,788,352,975 |
| 2016 | $6,084,297,211 |
| 2017 | $5,749,846,528 |
| 2018 | $6,390,514,689 |
| 2019 | $6,526,183,564 |
| 2020 | $6,693,888,876 |
| 2021 | $7,173,379,137 |
| 2022 | $7,124,465,160 |
| 2023 | $6,411,787,856 |
| 2024 | $7,547,843,281 |
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 1960 | $142 |
| 1961 | $142.3 |
| 1962 | $146.4 |
| 1963 | $146.4 |
| 1964 | $153.4 |
| 1965 | $145.6 |
| 1966 | $149.4 |
| 1967 | $136.2 |
| 1968 | $126.4 |
| 1969 | $153.6 |
| 1970 | $160.2 |
| 1971 | $151.8 |
| 1972 | $165.3 |
| 1973 | $200.7 |
| 1974 | $222.2 |
| 1975 | $228.4 |
| 1976 | $196.4 |
| 1977 | $224.3 |
| 1978 | $305 |
| 1979 | $346 |
| 1980 | $336 |
| 1981 | $334 |
| 1982 | $380 |
| 1983 | $285.9 |
| 1984 | $306 |
| 1985 | $235.5 |
| 1986 | $131.5 |
| 1987 | $172.4 |
| 1988 | $268.2 |
| 1989 | $231.3 |
| 1990 | $154.8 |
| 1991 | $183.7 |
| 1992 | $163.2 |
| 1993 | $185 |
| 1994 | $218.5 |
| 1995 | $208.4 |
| 1996 | $224.3 |
| 1997 | $199.9 |
| 1998 | $156.5 |
| 1999 | $155 |
| 2000 | $143.7 |
| 2001 | $358 |
| 2002 | $389 |
| 2003 | $414 |
| 2004 | $418 |
| 2005 | $463 |
| 2006 | $580 |
| 2007 | $632 |
| 2008 | $705 |
| 2009 | $653 |
| 2010 | $685 |
| 2011 | $761 |
| 2012 | $938 |
| 2013 | $1,117 |
| 2014 | $1,118 |
| 2015 | $965 |
| 2016 | $844 |
| 2017 | $779 |
| 2018 | $846 |
| 2019 | $844 |
| 2020 | $846 |
| 2021 | $886 |
| 2022 | $861 |
| 2023 | $758 |
| 2024 | $873 |
Sierra Leone's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 28.9 |
| 1951 | 29.3 |
| 1952 | 29.7 |
| 1953 | 30.1 |
| 1954 | 30.5 |
| 1955 | 30.9 |
| 1956 | 31.3 |
| 1957 | 31.8 |
| 1958 | 32.1 |
| 1959 | 32.6 |
| 1960 | 33.1 |
| 1961 | 33.6 |
| 1962 | 34.2 |
| 1963 | 34.7 |
| 1964 | 35.3 |
| 1965 | 35.9 |
| 1966 | 36.6 |
| 1967 | 37.3 |
| 1968 | 37.8 |
| 1969 | 38.2 |
| 1970 | 38.6 |
| 1971 | 39.1 |
| 1972 | 39.5 |
| 1973 | 40 |
| 1974 | 40.4 |
| 1975 | 41 |
| 1976 | 41.4 |
| 1977 | 41.8 |
| 1978 | 42.2 |
| 1979 | 42.5 |
| 1980 | 42.8 |
| 1981 | 43.1 |
| 1982 | 43.3 |
| 1983 | 43.5 |
| 1984 | 43.6 |
| 1985 | 43.6 |
| 1986 | 43.5 |
| 1987 | 43.7 |
| 1988 | 43.8 |
| 1989 | 43.7 |
| 1990 | 43.7 |
| 1991 | 43.3 |
| 1992 | 43.5 |
| 1993 | 43.4 |
| 1994 | 42.8 |
| 1995 | 42.6 |
| 1996 | 43.5 |
| 1997 | 43.6 |
| 1998 | 42.7 |
| 1999 | 42 |
| 2000 | 44.8 |
| 2001 | 45.4 |
| 2002 | 46.2 |
| 2003 | 46.8 |
| 2004 | 47.5 |
| 2005 | 48.3 |
| 2006 | 49.5 |
| 2007 | 50 |
| 2008 | 50.7 |
| 2009 | 51.3 |
| 2010 | 51.9 |
| 2011 | 52.6 |
| 2012 | 53.2 |
| 2013 | 54.1 |
| 2014 | 54.3 |
| 2015 | 55.5 |
| 2016 | 56.9 |
| 2017 | 57.8 |
| 2018 | 59.1 |
| 2019 | 59.6 |
| 2020 | 59.7 |
| 2021 | 60.3 |
| 2022 | 61.3 |
| 2023 | 61.8 |
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2025 | 62.2 |
Sierra Leone's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,268,356 |
| 1961 | 2,304,227 |
| 1962 | 2,342,242 |
| 1963 | 2,382,258 |
| 1964 | 2,424,390 |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 |
| 1966 | 2,514,638 |
| 1967 | 2,562,384 |
| 1968 | 2,611,532 |
| 1969 | 2,661,365 |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 |
| 1971 | 2,763,222 |
| 1972 | 2,814,388 |
| 1973 | 2,866,955 |
| 1974 | 2,920,459 |
| 1975 | 2,974,657 |
| 1976 | 3,028,820 |
| 1977 | 3,085,354 |
| 1978 | 3,145,517 |
| 1979 | 3,207,499 |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 |
| 1981 | 3,338,940 |
| 1982 | 3,408,183 |
| 1983 | 3,481,646 |
| 1984 | 3,558,758 |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 |
| 1986 | 3,728,380 |
| 1987 | 3,829,718 |
| 1988 | 3,934,517 |
| 1989 | 4,034,037 |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 |
| 1991 | 4,246,267 |
| 1992 | 4,166,366 |
| 1993 | 4,157,130 |
| 1994 | 4,173,105 |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 |
| 1996 | 4,199,210 |
| 1997 | 4,253,716 |
| 1998 | 4,295,785 |
| 1999 | 4,318,043 |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 |
| 2001 | 4,692,716 |
| 2002 | 4,971,435 |
| 2003 | 5,177,687 |
| 2004 | 5,355,717 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 |
| 2006 | 5,624,466 |
| 2007 | 5,749,352 |
| 2008 | 5,894,722 |
| 2009 | 6,055,646 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 |
| 2011 | 6,387,251 |
| 2012 | 6,551,080 |
| 2013 | 6,714,051 |
| 2014 | 6,876,385 |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 |
| 2022 | 8,276,807 |
| 2023 | 8,460,512 |
| 2024 | 8,642,022 |
Sierra Leone's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.18 |
| 1961 | 6.21 |
| 1962 | 6.22 |
| 1963 | 6.26 |
| 1964 | 6.29 |
| 1965 | 6.31 |
| 1966 | 6.35 |
| 1967 | 6.38 |
| 1968 | 6.39 |
| 1969 | 6.39 |
| 1970 | 6.41 |
| 1971 | 6.43 |
| 1972 | 6.45 |
| 1973 | 6.47 |
| 1974 | 6.53 |
| 1975 | 6.55 |
| 1976 | 6.55 |
| 1977 | 6.57 |
| 1978 | 6.59 |
| 1979 | 6.58 |
| 1980 | 6.56 |
| 1981 | 6.55 |
| 1982 | 6.56 |
| 1983 | 6.57 |
| 1984 | 6.59 |
| 1985 | 6.59 |
| 1986 | 6.6 |
| 1987 | 6.61 |
| 1988 | 6.59 |
| 1989 | 6.57 |
| 1990 | 6.57 |
| 1991 | 6.55 |
| 1992 | 6.56 |
| 1993 | 6.57 |
| 1994 | 6.56 |
| 1995 | 6.56 |
| 1996 | 6.55 |
| 1997 | 6.53 |
| 1998 | 6.5 |
| 1999 | 6.42 |
| 2000 | 6.36 |
| 2001 | 6.31 |
| 2002 | 6.23 |
| 2003 | 6.09 |
| 2004 | 5.92 |
| 2005 | 5.81 |
| 2006 | 5.74 |
| 2007 | 5.64 |
| 2008 | 5.56 |
| 2009 | 5.45 |
| 2010 | 5.33 |
| 2011 | 5.21 |
| 2012 | 5.06 |
| 2013 | 4.87 |
| 2014 | 4.7 |
| 2015 | 4.55 |
| 2016 | 4.47 |
| 2017 | 4.39 |
| 2018 | 4.29 |
| 2019 | 4.19 |
| 2020 | 4.08 |
| 2021 | 3.98 |
| 2022 | 3.88 |
| 2023 | 3.79 |
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 21.1 |
| 1961 | 21.1 |
| 1962 | 21.1 |
| 1963 | 21 |
| 1964 | 21 |
| 1965 | 20.9 |
| 1966 | 20.9 |
| 1967 | 20.8 |
| 1968 | 20.7 |
| 1969 | 20.6 |
| 1970 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 20.2 |
| 1972 | 20.1 |
| 1973 | 19.9 |
| 1974 | 19.8 |
| 1975 | 19.6 |
| 1976 | 19.5 |
| 1977 | 19.4 |
| 1978 | 19.3 |
| 1979 | 19.2 |
| 1980 | 19.1 |
| 1981 | 19.1 |
| 1982 | 19 |
| 1983 | 18.9 |
| 1984 | 18.9 |
| 1985 | 18.8 |
| 1986 | 18.7 |
| 1987 | 18.7 |
| 1988 | 18.6 |
| 1989 | 18.6 |
| 1990 | 18.5 |
| 1991 | 18.5 |
| 1992 | 18.4 |
| 1993 | 18.4 |
| 1994 | 18.3 |
| 1995 | 18.2 |
| 1996 | 18.2 |
| 1997 | 18.1 |
| 1998 | 18.1 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 17.9 |
| 2003 | 17.9 |
| 2004 | 17.9 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 18.1 |
| 2009 | 18.1 |
| 2010 | 18.2 |
| 2011 | 18.3 |
| 2012 | 18.4 |
| 2013 | 18.5 |
| 2014 | 18.6 |
| 2015 | 18.7 |
| 2016 | 18.9 |
| 2017 | 19.1 |
| 2018 | 19.2 |
| 2019 | 19.4 |
| 2020 | 19.6 |
| 2021 | 19.8 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 20.3 |
| 2024 | 20.5 |
Sierra Leone vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Sierra Leone with other countries.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
Sierra Leone: National Statistics
Finance
|
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$7.26B
2024 |
154/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
17.7%
2025 |
174/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
2.62%
2023 |
156/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.56%
2023 |
148/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
9,000
2020 |
139/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-4.2%
2025 |
129/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
3.19%
2018 |
148/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
44.8%
2024 |
161/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
27.3%
2024 |
73/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
48
2025 |
173/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
29.4%
2018 |
70/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3.4%
2018 |
42/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$433M
2024 |
160/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$322M
2024 |
124/190 |
| International tourist arrivals |
71,000
2019 |
170/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
5.49%
2018 |
90/184 |
| Banked people share |
38.6%
2024 |
132/158 |
Energy
|
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
1.07 megatons
2023 |
158/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.13 tons
2023 |
178/187 |
| Renewable energy use share |
71.6%
2022 |
25/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
75.3%
2021 |
37/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
70.5%
2021 |
25/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
165/192 |
| Electricity access |
35.5%
2023 |
185/195 |
Society
|
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.11%
2024 |
102/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-11,000
2024 |
139/196 |
| Urban population |
44.8%
2024 |
144/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.46 ft
2025 |
171/190 |
| Average female height |
5.16 ft
2025 |
151/190 |
| Quality of life index |
30.5
2025 |
151/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
33
2024 |
136/197 |
| Higher education index |
16
2025 |
155/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
2.14
2020 |
116/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
33
2019 |
14/197 |
| Visa free countries |
68
2025 |
150/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
48.6%
2022 |
187/196 |
| English speaking |
83.5%
2023 |
29/197 |
| People using the Internet |
20.6%
2023 |
181/195 |
Health
|
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$39.3
2022 |
176/191 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$20.7
2022 |
155/191 |
| Life expectancy |
62.2 years
2025 |
186/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
28%
2022 |
24/178 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.04
2022 |
188/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
19.6 years
2025 |
121/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
354
2023 |
20/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
94.3
2023 |
7/192 |
| Obesity rate |
7.32%
2022 |
173/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
4.8%
2024 |
173/195 |
| Air quality index |
16
2025 |
167/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
12.9%
2022 |
114/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
0.29 liters
2020 |
167/186 |
Territory
|
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.05%
2025 |
116/197 |
| Land area per capita |
3,225 sq mi
2024 |
121/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
15,247 sq mi
2025 |
96/194 |
| Forest area |
9,559 sq mi
2025 |
98/196 |
| Roads length |
7,270 mi
2015 |
117/175 |
Compare Sierra Leone with other countries
Relevant pages:
Sierra Leone topic pages:
Facts comparisons
