Demographics of Sierra Leone

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Sierra Leone, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

File:Sierra-Leone-demography.png

Demographics of Sierra Leone, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

The demographics of Sierra Leone is 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. In addition, about 5,000 Lebanese, 1000 Indians, and 5,000 Europeans reside in the country.

In the past, 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. However, the level of education and infrastructure has declined sharply over the last 30 years.

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

File:SierraLeonePopulationPyramid2000.png

Population pyramid for Sierra Leone

Population

6,017,643 (July 2005 est.); 5,732,681 (July 2003 est.); 5,232,624 (July 2000 est.)

Age structure

0–14 years: 44.7% (male 1,318,508/female 1,371,164)

15–64 years: 52% (male 1,494,068/female 1,637,276)

65 years and over: 3.3% (male 93,047/female 103,580) (2005 est.)

0–14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516)

15–64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597)

65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.)

0–14 years: 44.73% (male 1,148,264; female 1,192,533)

15–64 years: 52.16% (male 1,305,039; female 1,424,076)

65 years and over: 3.11% (male 81,291; female 81,421) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.30% (2006 est.)

Birth rate

42.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est

43.89 births/1,000 population (2003 es

45.63 births/1,000 population (2000 est

Death rate

20.61 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

20.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

19.58 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

10.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Maternal Mortality Ratio

2000 deaths/100 000 births (2000 est.).

Sierra Leone's MMR is the worst of any country in the world, according to the 2000 WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA report.

Infant mortality rate

total: 143.64 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 161.06 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 125.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

total: 146.86 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 128.96 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 164.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

total: 148.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 39.87 years

male: 37.74 years

female: 42.06 years (2005 est.)

total population: 42.84 years

male: 40.33 years

female: 45.42 years (2003 est.)

total population: 45.25 years

male: 42.37 years

female: 48.21 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

5.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)

6.08 children born/woman (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 7% (2001 est.)

people living with HIV/AIDS: 170,000 (2001 est.)

deaths: 11,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sierra Leonean(s)

adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%)

Creole 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century)

Refugees from Liberia's recent civil war

Small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Religions

Muslim 46%

indigenous beliefs 29%

Christian 25%

Languages

English (official, regular use limited to literate minority)

Mende (principal vernacular in the south)

Temne (principal vernacular in the north)

Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed American and West Indian slaves and Liberated Africans who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Bengali was named an official language in 2002 although it is not native to Sierra Leone

Literacy

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

Total population: 29.6%

Male: 39.8%

Female: 20.5% (2000 est.)

Total population: 31.4%

Male: 45.4%

Female: 18.2% (1995 est.)

Cities with the highest percentage of a single ethnic group

City	largest ethnic group	percentage of population
Freetown	Krio	28%
Bo	Mende	47%
Kenema	Mende	45%
Koidu Town	Kono	40%
Makeni	Temne	43%
Magburaka	Temne	46%
Kabala	Mandingo	38%
Kailahun	Mende	50%
Bonthe	Sherbro	40%
Port Loko	Temne	50%
Moyamba	Mende	42%
Kambia	Temne	38%

References

bg:Население на Сиера Леоне pt:Demografia da Serra Leoa