Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 222,258 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
222,258
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
83rd
of 222 countries
All-time high
222,258
in 2025
All-time low
74,144
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone stood at 222,258. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone peaked at 222,258 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 74,144, in 1970.
Sierra Leone ranks 83rd of 222 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 74,144 | — |
| 1971 | 75,838 | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 77,664 | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 79,615 | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 81,172 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 82,846 | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 84,684 | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 86,476 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 88,422 | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 90,537 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 93,283 | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 95,390 | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 97,516 | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 99,931 | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 102,675 | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 105,016 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 107,463 | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 110,630 | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 114,094 | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 117,563 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 120,888 | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 128,006 | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 124,520 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 124,208 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 124,258 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 124,708 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 124,773 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 122,103 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 124,163 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 125,562 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 127,025 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 132,495 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 142,140 | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 149,715 | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 156,461 | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 161,773 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 166,176 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 169,450 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 173,243 | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 177,780 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 181,141 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 182,297 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 185,992 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 191,100 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 194,766 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 199,266 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 202,583 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 205,491 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 209,019 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 211,440 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 211,280 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 211,867 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 212,283 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 215,627 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 219,233 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 222,258 | +1.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 222,258 is below the median for low income countries, which is 621,871, 36% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 222,258 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 414,762, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 82,140 | 74,144 | 90,537 | 10 |
| 1980s | 104,356 | 93,283 | 117,563 | 10 |
| 1990s | 124,319 | 120,888 | 128,006 | 10 |
| 2000s | 155,626 | 127,025 | 177,780 | 10 |
| 2010s | 196,310 | 181,141 | 211,440 | 10 |
| 2020s | 215,425 | 211,280 | 222,258 | 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 population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Sierra Leone was 222,258 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 222,258 in 2025.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 74,144 in 1970.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- Sierra Leone ranks 83rd out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release