Population by labor force status in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population by labor force status was 3.32 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3.32 million people
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
83rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
3.32 million people
in 2025
All-time low
1.80 million people
in 1993
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Sierra Leone, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by labor force status in Sierra Leone is 3.32 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Sierra Leone peaked at 3.32 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.80 million people, in 1993.
That places Sierra Leone 83rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Population by labor force status in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.83 million people | — |
| 1992 | 1.80 million people | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 1.80 million people | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.81 million people | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 1.81 million people | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 1.82 million people | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 1.85 million people | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 1.87 million people | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 1.89 million people | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 1.94 million people | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 2.06 million people | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 2.18 million people | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 2.27 million people | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 2.35 million people | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 2.41 million people | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 2.46 million people | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 2.51 million people | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 2.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 2.63 million people | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 2.69 million people | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 2.75 million people | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 2.80 million people | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 2.86 million people | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.90 million people | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 2.94 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.99 million people | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.03 million people | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 3.07 million people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.11 million people | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 3.15 million people | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 3.19 million people | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 3.23 million people | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 3.26 million people | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 3.29 million people | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 3.32 million people | +0.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.32 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.15 million people, 36% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.32 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.33 million people, 52% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.83 million people | 1.80 million people | 1.89 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.34 million people | 1.94 million people | 2.63 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.91 million people | 2.69 million people | 3.11 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.24 million people | 3.15 million people | 3.32 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More work & labour data for Sierra Leone
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1389 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,725 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,247 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,103 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 7,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 15,934 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Sierra Leone?
- Population by labor force status in Sierra Leone was 3.32 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 3.32 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.80 million people in 1993.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population by labor force status?
- Sierra Leone ranks 83rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).