| Demographics of Sierra Leone | |
|---|---|
 Sierra Leone population pyramid in 2020 | |
| Population | 8,420,641 |
| Density | 80.06 inhabitants per sq km. |
| Growth rate | 15.40% (2004–2014 est.) |
| Birth rate | 37.40 births/1,000 inhabitants |
| Death rate | 11.03 deaths/1,000 inhabitants |
| Life expectancy | 57.39 years |
| • male | 54.85 years |
| • female | 60.00 years |
| Fertility rate | 4.2 children born/women |
| Infant mortality rate | 73.29 deaths/1,000 births |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 41.9% |
| 15–64 years | 54.4% |
| 65 and over | 3.7% |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 0.94 male(s)/female |
| At birth | 1.03 male(s)/female |
| Under 15 | 0.99 male(s)/female |
| 15–64 years | 0.94 male(s)/female |
| 65 and over | 0.78 male(s)/female |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Sierra Leonean(s) |
| Major ethnic | Temne 25.2%, Mende 30.5% |
| Minor ethnic | Fula 5.4%, Limba 6.4%, Kono 10.4%, Loko 2.9%, Koranko 2.8%, Sherbro 2.6%, Mandingo 2.4%, Creole 5.2%, Other 5.2% |
| Language | |
| Official | English |
| Spoken | Krio, Temne, Mende |
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.
Contents
- Population
- Vital statistics
- Demographic and Health Surveys
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- References
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]
