Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Sierra Leone

Urban population share in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 45.9%. Ranked 158 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 28.5 pp.

2025 45.9% +0.6 pp vs 2024
World rank 158of 217
Period maximum 45.9%2025
Period minimum 17.4%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Sierra Leone, 1960–2025102030405019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.4%1962: 18.5%1964: 19.7%1966: 21.1%1968: 22.7%1970: 24.4%1972: 25.9%1974: 27.2%1976: 28.3%1978: 29.3%1980: 30.2%1982: 31%1984: 31.8%1986: 32.4%1988: 33%1990: 33.5%1992: 33.9%1994: 34.3%1996: 34.7%1998: 35.1%2000: 35.5%2002: 36%2004: 36.5%2006: 37.2%2008: 37.9%2010: 38.6%2012: 39.5%2014: 40.3%2016: 41.2%2018: 42.2%2020: 43.2%2022: 44.3%2024: 45.4%2025: 45.9%
Change over the period: +28.5 pp Annual average: 0.44 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone 45.9%
World 57.8%
Western Africa computed 54.2%
Low-income countries computed 35.6%
Urban population share — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 45.9 +0.6 pp
2024 45.4 +0.6 pp
2023 44.8 +0.5 pp
2022 44.3 +0.5 pp
2021 43.7 +0.5 pp
2020 43.2 +0.5 pp
2019 42.7 +0.5 pp
2018 42.2 +0.5 pp
2017 41.7 +0.5 pp
2016 41.2 +0.5 pp
2015 40.8 +0.4 pp
2014 40.3 +0.4 pp
2013 39.9 +0.4 pp
2012 39.5 +0.4 pp
2011 39 +0.4 pp
2010 38.6 +0.4 pp
2009 38.2 +0.4 pp
2008 37.9 +0.4 pp
2007 37.5 +0.3 pp
2006 37.2 +0.3 pp
2005 36.8 +0.3 pp
2004 36.5 +0.3 pp
2003 36.3 +0.3 pp
2002 36 +0.2 pp
2001 35.8 +0.2 pp
2000 35.5 +0.2 pp
1999 35.3 +0.2 pp
1998 35.1 +0.2 pp
1997 34.9 +0.2 pp
1996 34.7 +0.2 pp
1995 34.5 +0.2 pp
1994 34.3 +0.2 pp
1993 34.1 +0.2 pp
1992 33.9 +0.2 pp
1991 33.7 +0.2 pp
1990 33.5 +0.2 pp
1989 33.2 +0.3 pp
1988 33 +0.3 pp
1987 32.7 +0.3 pp
1986 32.4 +0.3 pp
1985 32.1 +0.3 pp
1984 31.8 +0.4 pp
1983 31.4 +0.4 pp
1982 31 +0.4 pp
1981 30.6 +0.4 pp
1980 30.2 +0.4 pp
1979 29.8 +0.5 pp
1978 29.3 +0.5 pp
1977 28.8 +0.5 pp
1976 28.3 +0.5 pp
1975 27.8 +0.6 pp
1974 27.2 +0.6 pp
1973 26.6 +0.7 pp
1972 25.9 +0.8 pp
1971 25.2 +0.8 pp
1970 24.4 +0.8 pp
1969 23.5 +0.8 pp
1968 22.7 +0.8 pp
1967 21.9 +0.8 pp
1966 21.1 +0.7 pp
1965 20.3 +0.7 pp
1964 19.7 +0.6 pp
1963 19 +0.5 pp
1962 18.5 +0.5 pp
1961 18 +0.5 pp
1960 17.4

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.