Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 3.3 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
3.3
World rank
94th
of 111 countries
All-time high
3.3
in 2020
All-time low
0
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone is 3.3, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 135.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone peaked at 3.3 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1870.
Sierra Leone ranks 94th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0 | — |
| 1875 | 0 | — |
| 1880 | 0 | — |
| 1885 | 0 | — |
| 1890 | 0 | — |
| 1895 | 0 | — |
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0 | — |
| 1915 | 0 | — |
| 1920 | 0 | — |
| 1925 | 0.1 | — |
| 1930 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.2 | +100.0% |
| 1950 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1965 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1990 | 0.6 | +50.0% |
| 1995 | 0.8 | +33.3% |
| 2000 | 0.9 | +12.5% |
| 2005 | 1.1 | +22.2% |
| 2010 | 1.4 | +27.3% |
| 2015 | 2.6 | +85.7% |
| 2020 | 3.3 | +26.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.3 is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.3, 1.4× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.3 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.3, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.05 | 0 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1940s | 0.15 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2 |
| 2000s | 1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 2010s | 2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.5 (2012)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.37 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sierra Leone was 3.3 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1870.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Sierra Leone ranks 94th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 135.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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