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Demographics of Sierra Leone

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Demographics of {{{place}}}
Population8,420,641
Density80.06 inhabitants per sq km.
Growth rate15.40% (2004–2014 est.)
Birth rate37.40 births/1,000 inhabitants
Death rate11.03 deaths/1,000 inhabitants
Life expectancy57.39 years
 • male54.85 years
 • female60.00 years
Fertility rate4.83 children born/women
Infant mortality rate73.29 deaths/1,000 births
Age structure
0–14 years41.9%
15–64 years54.4%
65 and over3.7%
Sex ratio
Total0.94 male(s)/female
At birth1.03 male(s)/female
Under 150.99 male(s)/female
15–64 years0.94 male(s)/female
65 and over0.78 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalitySierra Leonean(s)
Major ethnicTemne 35%, Mende 31%
Minor ethnicLimba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2%, Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15%
Language
OfficialEnglish
SpokenMende, Temne, Krio

The demographics of Sierra Leone are made up of an indigenous population from 18 ethnic groups. The Temne in the north and the Mende in the South are the largest. About 60,000 are Krio, the descendants of freed slaves who returned to Sierra Leone from Great Britain, North America and slave ships captured on the high seas. In addition, about 5,000 Lebanese, 1,000 Indians, and 5,000 Europeans reside in the country.

In the past, some Sierra Leoneans were noted for their educational achievements, trading activity, entrepreneurial skills, and arts and crafts work, particularly woodcarving. Many are part of larger ethnic networks extending into several countries, which link West African states in the area. Their level of education and infrastructure have declined sharply over the last 30 years.[1]

Population

Historical populations of Sierra Leone
YearPop.±% p.a.
1963 2,180,355—    
1974 2,735,159+2.08%
1985 3,515,812+2.31%
2004 4,976,871+1.85%
2014 5,743,725+1.44%
Source: [2]
Sierra Leone's total population, from 1961 to 2003.

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[3][4] the total population was 8,420,641 in 2021, compared to only 1 895 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43%, 55.1% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 1.9% was 65 years or older .[5]

Total population (x 1000) Population aged 0–14 (%) Population aged 15–64 (%) Population aged 65+ (%)
1950 1 895 39.4 57.6 3.0
1955 2 029 39.6 57.5 2.9
1960 2 187 39.6 57.5 2.9
1965 2 373 39.8 57.3 2.9
1970 2 593 40.5 56.9 2.9
1975 2 845 40.5 56.6 3.0
1980 3 162 41.1 56.0 2.9
1985 3 541 42.0 55.3 2.7
1990 3 982 42.4 55.1 2.6
1995 3 898 42.3 55.3 2.4
2000 4 143 42.4 55.5 2.1
2005 5 153 42.9 55.2 1.9
2010 5 868 43.0 55.1 1.9

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Sierra Leone not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. [5]

Period Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR*
1950-1955 96 000 69 000 27 000 48.8 35.1 13.6 6.03 242
1955-1960 102 000 71 000 32 000 48.6 33.6 15.0 6.03 235
1960-1965 110 000 73 000 37 000 48.5 32.1 16.3 6.03 227
1965-1970 119 000 75 000 44 000 47.8 30.1 17.7 5.98 214
1970-1975 124 000 73 000 50 000 45.5 26.9 18.6 5.75 195
1975-1980 133 000 69 000 63 000 44.1 23.1 21.1 5.63 164
1980-1985 143 000 68 000 76 000 42.8 20.2 22.6 5.52 135
1985-1990 162 000 86 000 76 000 43.0 22.8 20.1 5.59 154
1990-1995 175 000 101 000 73 000 44.3 25.7 18.6 5.81 166
1995-2000 179 000 100 000 79 000 44.6 24.9 19.6 5.84 157
2000-2005 199 000 97 000 102 000 42.7 20.8 22.0 5.56 133
2005-2010 224 000 93 000 131 000 40.6 16.9 23.7 5.22 114
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[6]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
2008 31.5 5.1 (4.5) 27.3 3.8 (3.4) 33.4 5.8 (5.2)
2013 35.7 4.9 (4.2) 29.5 3.5 (3.0) 38.2 5.7 (4.9)

Fertility data as of 2013 (DHS Program):[7]

District Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Kailahun 6.0 9.7 6.4
Kenema 4.9 9.2 6.4
Kono 5.8 8.1 6.6
Bombali 4.4 7.3 6.1
Kambia 5.8 8.5 5.8
Koinadugu 5.5 9.6 6.8
Port Loko 5.3 10.6 5.9
Tonkolili 5.2 10.5 6.6
Bo 5.1 9.9 6.1
Bonthe 4.2 7.3 4.3
Moyamba 6.2 9.4 6.0
Pujehun 6.3 10.3 7.3
Western Area (Rural) 3.8 9.8 5.1
Western Area (Urban) 3.1 4.6 4.3

Life expectancy

Period Life expectancy in
Years[8]
1950–1955 28.82
1955–1960 Increase 29.87
1960–1965 Increase 30.99
1965–1970 Increase 32.63
1970–1975 Increase 36.78
1975–1980 Increase 39.70
1980–1985 Increase 40.85
1985–1990 Decrease 39.13
1990–1995 Decrease 35.96
1995–2000 Increase 36.69
2000–2005 Increase 41.32
2005–2010 Increase 45.88
2010–2015 Increase 50.19

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Sierra Leone's population pyramid in 2005. In 2010, 43% of Sierra Leone's population was below the age of 15.[5]

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population growth rate

2.33% growth rate (2014 est.)

Birth rate

38.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

11.41 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Net migration rate

-3.86 migrants/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning.

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Maternal Mortality Ratio

890 deaths/100 000 births (2010)

Sierra Leone's MMR is the worst of any country in the world, according to the 2000 WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA report.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 56.55 years
male: 54.08 years
female: 59.11 years (2012 est.)
total population: 42.84 years
male: 40.33 years
female: 45.42 years (2003 est.)
total population: 45.25 years
male: 42.37 years
female: 48.21 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.9 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Health expenditures

13.1% of GDP (2009)

Physicians density

0.016 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2008)

HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 1.6% (2009 est.)
people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (2009 est.)
deaths: 2,800 (2008 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dist or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)

Nationality

noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups

Further information: Ethnic groups in Sierra Leone
The distribution of major ethnic groups within Sierra Leone.
18 native African tribes 90% (Temne 36%, Mende 33%, Limba 6.4%, Kono 4.4% other 20%)
Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century)
Refugees from Liberia's recent civil war
Small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Religions[9]

Main article: Religion in Sierra Leone
Islam 60%
Christian 10%
Indigenous beliefs 30%

Languages

Further information: Languages of Sierra Leone
English (official, regular use limited to literate minority)
Mende (principal vernacular in the south)
Temne (principal vernacular in the north)
Fula (principal language in Sierra Leone, it is also strongly and widely spoken across West Africa and beyond...)
Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed American and West Indian slaves and Liberated Africans who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Education expenditure

4.3% of GDP (2009)

Literacy

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

Total population: 35.1%
Male: 46.9%
Female: 24.4% (2004 est.)
Total population: 31.4%
Male: 45.4%
Female: 18.2% (1995 est.)

Cities with the highest percentage of a single ethnic group

City largest ethnic group percentage of population
Freetown Krio 28% Fullah 28%
Bo Mende 47%
Kenema Mende 45%
Koidu Town Kono 30% Fullah 30%
Makeni Temne 30% Fullah 30%
Magburaka Temne 46%
Kabala Fullah 49%
Kailahun Mende 50%
Bonthe Sherbro 40%
Port Loko Temne 50%
Moyamba Mende 42%
Kambia Temne 20% Susu 20% Fullah 20%

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Demographics of Sierra Leone.
  1. ^ "Sierra Leone (02/08)". "U.S. Department of State". Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  2. ^ "FINAL RESULTS 2004 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS" (PDF). Sierra-leone.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Archived May 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Sierra Leone - Demographic and Health Survey 2008". microdata.worldbank.org.
  7. ^ "Demographic and Health Survey 2013" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  8. ^ "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  9. ^ "Africa :: SIERRA LEONE". CIA The World Factbook.
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