Rural population growth in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Rural population growth was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Sierra Leone, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 1.0% for rural population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.5% on the previous year and down 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, -2.2%, in 1992.
Sierra Leone ranks 54th of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.9% | — |
| 1962 | 1.0% | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 1.0% | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 1.0% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 1.0% | -5.3% |
| 1966 | 0.9% | -5.3% |
| 1967 | 0.9% | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 0.8% | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 0.8% | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 0.8% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 0.8% | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 0.9% | +10.3% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | +11.2% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | +7.5% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 1.6% | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 1.7% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 2.0% | +14.9% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | +13.7% |
| 1988 | 2.3% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 2.1% | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 3.6% | +69.7% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -76.9% |
| 1992 | -2.2% | -366.7% |
| 1993 | -0.5% | -75.9% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -114.5% |
| 1995 | -0.2% | -301.7% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -212.1% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +459.5% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | -31.8% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -71.4% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +981.4% |
| 2001 | 5.5% | +167.2% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | -32.1% |
| 2004 | 2.9% | -19.6% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -24.6% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -23.5% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | +16.3% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -8.4% |
| 2025 | 1.0% | -10.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | -2.2% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 1.7% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5407 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 29.54 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 29.54 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.4% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Sierra Leone?
- Rural population growth in Sierra Leone was 1.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.2% in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for rural population growth?
- Sierra Leone ranks 54th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.