Sierra Leone/Society

Society in Sierra Leone

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
8.5M(2023)
Population Growth
2.2%(2023)
Fertility Rate
3.79(2023)
Death Rate
8.3 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-11K(2024)

Public Health

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Life Expectancy
61.8 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
94.3 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
354 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
7.9%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

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Literacy Rate
48.6%(2022)
Primary Enrollment
98.1%(2016)
Secondary Enrollment
70.7%(2021)
Tertiary Enrollment
1.9(2002)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
6.8%(2023)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
20.6%(2023)
Access to Electricity
35.5%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
65.3%(2022)
Urban Population
3.7M(2023)
Rural Population
4.7M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Sierra Leone

  • Sierra Leone has an estimated population of 8.5M
    2023
    The nation is experiencing rapid demographic expansion with an annual growth rate of 2.2%
    2023
    , indicative of a dynamic and youthful population structure and potential for a significant demographic dividend. With a fertility rate of 3.8 births per woman
    2023
    , the population maintains momentum, necessitating strategic investments in social infrastructure. Net emigration of approximately 11K individuals annually (or 1.3 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    adds pressure to demographic transitions and workforce sustainability.
  • Regarding public health, The notably low life expectancy of 61.8 years
    2023
    underscores critical public health challenges that necessitate urgent and comprehensive interventions. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (94.3 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (354 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by a moderate commitment to health system development, with 7.9% of GDP directed to healthcare expenditure
    2022
    .
  • Critical educational challenges are highlighted by the low literacy rate of 49%
    2022
    , necessitating immediate and sustained interventions to improve foundational education. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 98% primary enrollment
    2016
    and 71% secondary participation rates
    2021
    . This educational framework is supported by robust public investment, with 6.8% of GDP dedicated to education spending
    2023
    , underscoring a strong commitment to human capital development.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (44% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 36%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 21%
    2023
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

A youthful, rapidly growing population presents a "demographic dividend" opportunity if met with sufficient investment in jobs and services.

Public Health System

Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.