Share of the population with lower secondary education in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 23.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Sierra Leone, 2003–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 23.1% for share of the population with lower secondary education in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Sierra Leone peaked at 23.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 16.5%, in 2003.
That places Sierra Leone 120th out of 135 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 16.5% | — |
| 2004 | 18.9% | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 22.7% | +20.1% |
| 2018 | 21.6% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 23.1% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.7% | 16.5% | 18.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 21.6% | 23.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 19.82 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 46,575 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,235 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 20.8 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 553,045 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 18.85 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 178,431 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 4 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Sierra Leone?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Sierra Leone was 23.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 23.1% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.5% in 2003.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Sierra Leone ranks 120th out of 135 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.