Sierra Leone has a population density of 323 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. Sierra Leone has 89,354 sq ft of land per person and ranks 77th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
Sierra Leone has 0.11% of the world's population and 0.05% of the total land area of all countries.
Sierra Leone population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 323 | 77 |
| 2025 | 317 | 77 |
| 2024 | 310 | 77 |
| 2023 | 304 | 78 |
| 2022 | 297 | 78 |
| 2021 | 290.5 | 80 |
| 2020 | 283.9 | 81 |
| 2019 | 277.4 | 84 |
| 2018 | 271.1 | 85 |
| 2017 | 264.8 | 87 |
| 2016 | 258.5 | 87 |
| 2015 | 252.5 | 88 |
| 2014 | 246.7 | 88 |
| 2013 | 240.9 | 88 |
| 2012 | 235.1 | 90 |
| 2011 | 229.2 | 91 |
| 2010 | 223.3 | 93 |
| 2009 | 217.3 | 93 |
| 2008 | 211.5 | 94 |
| 2007 | 206.3 | 93 |
| 2006 | 201.8 | 95 |
| 2005 | 197.4 | 94 |
| 2004 | 192.2 | 95 |
| 2003 | 185.8 | 96 |
| 2002 | 178.4 | 98 |
| 2001 | 168.4 | 100 |
| 2000 | 158.7 | 104 |
| 1999 | 154.9 | 104 |
| 1998 | 154.1 | 103 |
| 1997 | 152.6 | 102 |
| 1996 | 150.7 | 102 |
| 1995 | 150 | 100 |
| 1994 | 149.7 | 100 |
| 1993 | 149.2 | 98 |
| 1992 | 149.5 | 95 |
| 1991 | 152.4 | 85 |
| 1990 | 150.6 | 84 |
| 1989 | 144.8 | 84 |
| 1988 | 141.2 | 84 |
| 1987 | 137.4 | 84 |
| 1986 | 133.8 | 84 |
| 1985 | 130.6 | 85 |
| 1984 | 127.7 | 85 |
| 1983 | 124.9 | 84 |
| 1982 | 122.3 | 84 |
| 1981 | 119.8 | 84 |
| 1980 | 117.4 | 84 |
| 1979 | 115.1 | 84 |
| 1978 | 112.9 | 84 |
| 1977 | 110.7 | 83 |
| 1976 | 108.7 | 83 |
| 1975 | 106.7 | 81 |
| 1974 | 104.8 | 81 |
| 1973 | 102.9 | 81 |
| 1972 | 101 | 81 |
| 1971 | 99.2 | 81 |
| 1970 | 97.3 | 82 |
| 1969 | 95.5 | 82 |
| 1968 | 93.7 | 82 |
| 1967 | 91.9 | 80 |
| 1966 | 90.2 | 80 |
| 1965 | 88.6 | 79 |
| 1964 | 87 | 79 |
| 1963 | 85.5 | 78 |
| 1962 | 84 | 78 |
| 1961 | 82.7 | 78 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/sierra-leone | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in Sierra Leone has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 60%. Sierra Leone ranked 95th by population density 20 years ago and ranks 77th today.
Density metrics
Sierra Leone
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 323 ppl/mi² | 77/197 |
| Population |
9049533
|
102/197 |
| Land area | 27,869 sq mi | 116/197 |
| Land area per capita | 89,902 sq ft | 121/197 |
| Rural population | 54.6% | 56/195 |
| Urban population | 45.4% | 140/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 0% | 182/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45.4% | 140 |
| 2023 | 44.8% | 141 |
| 2022 | 44.3% | 141 |
| 2021 | 43.7% | 141 |
| 2020 | 43.2% | 142 |
| 2019 | 42.7% | 143 |
| 2018 | 42.2% | 144 |
| 2017 | 41.7% | 144 |
| 2016 | 41.2% | 144 |
| 2015 | 40.8% | 144 |
| 2014 | 40.3% | 144 |
| 2013 | 39.9% | 145 |
| 2012 | 39.5% | 145 |
| 2011 | 39% | 146 |
| 2010 | 38.6% | 145 |
| 2009 | 38.2% | 146 |
| 2008 | 37.9% | 146 |
| 2007 | 37.5% | 146 |
| 2006 | 37.2% | 146 |
| 2005 | 36.8% | 145 |
| 2004 | 36.5% | 145 |
| 2003 | 36.3% | 144 |
| 2002 | 36% | 142 |
| 2001 | 35.8% | 143 |
| 2000 | 35.5% | 143 |
| 1999 | 35.3% | 143 |
| 1998 | 35.1% | 142 |
| 1997 | 34.9% | 142 |
| 1996 | 34.7% | 142 |
| 1995 | 34.5% | 142 |
| 1994 | 34.3% | 142 |
| 1993 | 34.1% | 141 |
| 1992 | 33.9% | 141 |
| 1991 | 33.7% | 141 |
| 1990 | 33.5% | 141 |
| 1989 | 33.2% | 141 |
| 1988 | 33% | 140 |
| 1987 | 32.7% | 141 |
| 1986 | 32.4% | 137 |
| 1985 | 32.1% | 137 |
| 1984 | 31.8% | 136 |
| 1983 | 31.4% | 135 |
| 1982 | 31% | 135 |
| 1981 | 30.6% | 135 |
| 1980 | 30.2% | 133 |
| 1979 | 29.8% | 133 |
| 1978 | 29.3% | 134 |
| 1977 | 28.8% | 134 |
| 1976 | 28.3% | 134 |
| 1975 | 27.8% | 132 |
| 1974 | 27.2% | 132 |
| 1973 | 26.6% | 133 |
| 1972 | 25.9% | 134 |
| 1971 | 25.2% | 133 |
| 1970 | 24.4% | 136 |
| 1969 | 23.5% | 137 |
| 1968 | 22.7% | 137 |
| 1967 | 21.9% | 138 |
| 1966 | 21.1% | 139 |
| 1965 | 20.3% | 138 |
| 1964 | 19.7% | 140 |
| 1963 | 19% | 140 |
| 1962 | 18.5% | 140 |
| 1961 | 18% | 142 |
| 1960 | 17.4% | 141 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/sierra-leone | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in Sierra Leone from 1960 to 2024: 17.4% lived in urban areas in 1960, 35.5% in 2000, and 45.4% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/sierra-leone | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2013–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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