Population
8.46M persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Sierra Leone
All indicators of the Macroscope base for Sierra Leone, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 6.09 in 1950 → 3.79 in 2023 (−38%). Peak: 6.61 in 1987; the latest value is 43% lower. The trend broke around 1978 and 1999: +0.02 → 0 → −0.12 a year.
- Births: 95.6k in 1950 → 259k in 2023 (×2.7). The trend broke around 2010: change slowed down (+2.89k → +1.23k a year).
- Population: 2M in 1950 → 8.46M in 2023 (×4.2). The trend broke around 2000: change sped up (+62.1k → +167k a year).
- Internet: 0% in 1990 → 25.1% in 2024 (+25 pp). Threshold: above 10% since 2018. Fastest growth in 2017–2022: 9.3% → 21.5%.
- Urban share: 17.4% in 1960 → 45.9% in 2025 (+28 pp). The trend broke around 1979 and 2009: +0.7 → +0.25 → +0.48 a year.
- GDP per person (PPP): 2,704 PPP dollars in 1990 → 3,176 PPP dollars in 2025 (+17%). Low: 1,749 PPP dollars in 2001; +82% since then. The trend broke around 1998 and 2013: −105 → +61 → +24 a year.
- GDP growth: on average 0.6% in the 1980s, −7.4% in the 1990s, 8.7% in the 2000s, 4.7% in the 2010s, 4.0% in the 2020s. Lowest: −24.8% in 1996; highest: 26.4% in 2002.
- Inflation: on average 62.9% in the 1980s, 45.9% in the 1990s, 7.6% in the 2000s, 9.7% in the 2010s, 25.7% in the 2020s. Lowest: −0.9% in 2000; highest: 178.7% in 1987.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 2006–2016: 5.74 → 4.47. Over the same years: births 235k → 246k; population 5.62M → 7.21M; internet 0.2% → 7.7%; urban share 37.2% → 41.2%; GDP per person (PPP) 2,343 PPP dollars → 2,732 PPP dollars; GDP growth 4.6% → 4.7%; inflation 10.5% → 10.9%.
- Over the last 10 years (2013–2023): fertility (TFR) 4.87 → 3.79; births 246k → 259k; population 6.71M → 8.46M; internet 4% → 23.7%; urban share 39.9% → 44.8%; GDP per person (PPP) 3,125 PPP dollars → 3,035 PPP dollars; GDP growth 9.4% → 5.7%; inflation 5.5% → 47.7%.
How the indicators relate
- Fertility (TFR) and internet (1990–2023, 32 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.87); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.22). This looks like a shared trend: both change over time, but not in step from year to year.
- Fertility (TFR) and urban share (1960–2023, 64 years): levels are noticeably related, in opposite directions (r = −0.68); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = −0.22).
- Fertility (TFR) and GDP per person (PPP) (1990–2023, 34 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.80); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = −0.21). This looks like a shared trend: both change over time, but not in step from year to year.
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 6 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 4; median gap −0.9%.
- The UN 1998 projection expected this level (3.79) already around 2021: reality is 2 years behind it.
- The UN 2019 projection expected today's level (3.79, 2023) only around 2024: reality is 1 year ahead of it.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 2.45 (−35% vs 2023), 2100 — 1.87 (−51% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 1.37.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 7 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 4; median gap −3%.
- The UN 2000 projection expected this level (259k) already around 2004: reality is 19 years behind it.
- The UN 2008 projection expected today's level (259k, 2023) only around 2024: reality is 1 year ahead of it.
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 261k (+1% vs 2023), 2100 — 199k (−23% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 86.5k.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 4 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 8; median gap +5.4%.
- The UN 1998 projection expected today's level (8.46M, 2023) only around 2028: reality is 5 years ahead of it.
- The UN 2019 projection expected this level (8.46M) already around 2022: reality is 1 year behind it.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 12.9M (+53% vs 2023), 2100 — 15.9M (+88% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 10.6M.
- GDP growth: IMF next-year forecasts (34 editions, 2007–2023). On average the outcome was 3 pp below the forecast; below it in 59% of cases; typical error ±5.3 pp. The biggest miss was for 2012: IMF, September 2011 expected 51.4%, the outcome was 6.7%.
- GDP growth: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2025 — 4.4%, 2027 — 4.7%, 2031 — 4.5%.
- Inflation: IMF next-year forecasts (34 editions, 2007–2023). On average the outcome was 2.2 pp above the forecast; below it in 56% of cases; typical error ±5.1 pp. The biggest miss was for 2023: IMF, April 2022 expected 14.5%, the outcome was 47.7%.
- Inflation: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2025 — 7.6%, 2027 — 9%, 2031 — 9%.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates to 2023, then national statistics where comparable with the UN. Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 7.8M | 8.46M | +8.5% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 8.63M | 8.46M | −2% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 7.35M | 8.46M | +15.2% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 8.28M | 8.46M | +2.1% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 8.27M | 8.46M | +2.3% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 7.79M | 8.46M | +8.6% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 7.58M | 8.46M | +11.6% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 7.24M | 8.46M | +16.9% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 7.59M | 8.46M | +11.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 8.54M | 8.46M | −0.9% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 8.47M | 8.46M | −0.1% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 8.79M | 8.46M | −3.8% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 252k | 250k | −0.9% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 316k | 250k | −20.7% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 279k | 250k | −10.4% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 312k | 250k | −19.8% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 312k | 250k | −19.9% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 247k | 250k | +1.3% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 230k | 250k | +8.9% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 226k | 250k | +10.5% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 233k | 250k | +7.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 262k | 250k | −4.3% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 267k | 259k | −3% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 4.20 | 4.33 | +3.2% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 5.28 | 4.33 | −18% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 5.19 | 4.33 | −16.6% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 5.74 | 4.33 | −24.5% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 5.74 | 4.33 | −24.5% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 4.53 | 4.33 | −4.4% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 4.25 | 4.33 | +1.9% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 4.37 | 4.33 | −0.9% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 4.28 | 4.33 | +1.3% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 4.32 | 4.33 | +0.3% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 3.79 | 3.79 | 0% |
IMF forecasts vs actual
Solid line: actual values from the latest IMF edition (data get revised, so we use the newest). Dashed: April editions, current year and five years ahead. The table covers next-year forecasts from all editions: mean error shows bias, mean absolute error shows accuracy.
Real GDP growth
% per year
- Actual (IMF)
- WEO, April editions
| Indicator | Forecasts | Mean error | Mean absolute error | Actual below forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 34 | −3 pp | 5.3 pp | 59% |
| Inflation | 34 | +2.2 pp | 5.1 pp | 56% |
| Government gross debt | 26 | −17.7 pp | 17.7 pp | 100% |
All indicators
Demography
Births
259k births per year latest value, 2023
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Total fertility rate
3.79 children per woman latest value, 2023
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Life expectancy at birth, women
63.5 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
60.1 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
19.3 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
28.6 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
103.4 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Net migration
−4k persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection).
Old-age dependency
6.8 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Digitalisation
Internet users
25.1 % of population latest value, 2024
Share of individuals who used the Internet in the last three months from any device. ITU data.
Mobile cellular subscriptions
107.9 per 100 people latest value, 2022
Active mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people; can exceed 100 when people have several SIM cards. ITU data.
Fixed broadband subscriptions
0 subscriptions per 100 people latest value, 2021
Fixed subscriptions to high-speed Internet (256 kbit/s or more) per 100 people. ITU data.
Economy
GDP per capita, PPP
3,176 constant 2021 international $ latest value, 2025
Gross domestic product per person at purchasing power parity, constant 2021 international dollars (World Bank, ICP).
Real GDP growth
4.3 % per year latest value, 2024
Annual change of GDP at constant prices. Actual values and forecasts from IMF WEO editions.
Inflation
28.4 % per year, average latest value, 2024
Change of the annual average consumer price index (IMF WEO).
Government gross debt
46.7 % of GDP latest value, 2024
General government gross debt, percent of GDP (IMF WEO).
GDP per capita, US dollars
807 current US dollars latest value, 2024
GDP per person in current US dollars at market exchange rates (IMF WEO).
Society
Urban population
45.9 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (World Bank, from UN World Urbanization Prospects).
Tertiary enrolment, women
1.1 % gross latest value, 2002
Women enrolled in tertiary education as a share of women in the five-year age group after secondary school; can exceed 100 (UNESCO).
Women with upper secondary education
6.6 % of women 25+ latest value, 2019
Share of women aged 25+ who completed at least upper secondary education (UNESCO).
Life expectancy at birth
62 years latest value, 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes (World Bank, from UN and national statistics).
Same region: Africa
AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadComorosCôte d'IvoireDR CongoDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRepublic of the CongoRwandaRéunionSaint HelenaSao Tome and PrincipeSenegalSeychellesSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaWestern SaharaZambiaZimbabwe