Labor force, total in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Labor force, total was 2.93 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Sierra Leone, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Sierra Leone is 2.93 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Sierra Leone peaked at 2.93 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.52 million, in 1993.
Sierra Leone ranks 111th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.54 million | — |
| 1991 | 1.56 million | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 1.53 million | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 1.52 million | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 1.53 million | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 1.53 million | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.53 million | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 1.55 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 1.56 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 1.57 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 1.61 million | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 1.70 million | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 1.80 million | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 1.88 million | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 1.99 million | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 2.02 million | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 2.04 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 2.06 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 2.08 million | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 2.11 million | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 2.15 million | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 2.18 million | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 2.21 million | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 2.23 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 2.26 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 2.30 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 2.34 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.38 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 2.42 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 2.49 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 2.54 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 2.63 million | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 2.71 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 2.79 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 2.87 million | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.93 million | +2.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.93 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 8.16 million, 36% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.93 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 48% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.54 million | 1.52 million | 1.57 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.93 million | 1.61 million | 2.11 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.29 million | 2.15 million | 2.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.74 million | 2.54 million | 2.93 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Sierra Leone?
- Labor force, total in Sierra Leone was 2.93 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2.93 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.52 million in 1993.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for labor force, total?
- Sierra Leone ranks 111th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.