Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 1.39 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone stood at 1.39 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.39 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 119,017, in 1960.
Sierra Leone ranks 110th of 121 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 119,017 | — |
| 1961 | 122,176 | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 125,423 | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 130,035 | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 138,902 | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 148,347 | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 158,448 | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 169,237 | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 180,777 | +6.8% |
| 1969 | 193,069 | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 206,216 | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 220,257 | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 235,277 | +6.8% |
| 1973 | 251,274 | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 268,384 | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 284,039 | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 298,481 | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 313,615 | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 329,539 | +5.1% |
| 1979 | 346,271 | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 363,878 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 382,327 | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 401,740 | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 422,138 | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 443,602 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 466,094 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 483,408 | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 495,876 | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 508,683 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 521,785 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 535,242 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 549,047 | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 563,228 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 577,734 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 592,635 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 607,920 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 623,621 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 639,683 | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 656,181 | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 673,106 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 690,490 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 708,274 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 726,542 | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 745,281 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 764,530 | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 785,524 | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 808,125 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 831,376 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 855,330 | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 879,905 | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 905,221 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 931,266 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 958,098 | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 985,626 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 1.01 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 1.04 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 1.07 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 1.10 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 1.14 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.17 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 1.20 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 1.24 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 1.27 million | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 1.31 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 1.35 million | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 1.39 million | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 148,543 | 119,017 | 193,069 | 10 |
| 1970s | 275,335 | 206,216 | 346,271 | 10 |
| 1980s | 448,953 | 363,878 | 521,785 | 10 |
| 1990s | 601,840 | 535,242 | 673,106 | 10 |
| 2000s | 779,538 | 690,490 | 879,905 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.03 million | 905,221 | 1.17 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.29 million | 1.20 million | 1.39 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More urban development data for Sierra Leone
- Population in the largest city 34.3% (2025)
- Population density 117.21 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1573 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 18.14 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.39 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 25.86 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Sierra Leone was 1.39 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.39 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 119,017 in 1960.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Sierra Leone ranks 110th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.0%. 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 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.