Net migration in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Net migration was -11,309 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Sierra Leone, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Sierra Leone stood at -11,309.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 3,076.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Sierra Leone peaked at 227,791 in 2001 and was at its lowest, -238,965, in 1991.
Sierra Leone ranks 156th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -3,528 | — |
| 1961 | -2,947 | -16.5% |
| 1962 | -2,658 | -9.8% |
| 1963 | -2,480 | -6.7% |
| 1964 | -2,308 | -6.9% |
| 1965 | -1,851 | -19.8% |
| 1966 | -2,911 | +57.3% |
| 1967 | -2,819 | -3.2% |
| 1968 | -3,743 | +32.8% |
| 1969 | -4,485 | +19.8% |
| 1970 | -4,957 | +10.5% |
| 1971 | -8,162 | +64.7% |
| 1972 | -8,267 | +1.3% |
| 1973 | -9,322 | +12.8% |
| 1974 | -11,473 | +23.1% |
| 1975 | -13,058 | +13.8% |
| 1976 | -15,686 | +20.1% |
| 1977 | -12,399 | -21.0% |
| 1978 | -13,073 | +5.4% |
| 1979 | -13,095 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | -11,641 | -11.1% |
| 1981 | -12,699 | +9.1% |
| 1982 | -11,379 | -10.4% |
| 1983 | -8,783 | -22.8% |
| 1984 | -8,708 | -0.9% |
| 1985 | -7,873 | -9.6% |
| 1986 | 7,992 | -201.5% |
| 1987 | 9,558 | +19.6% |
| 1988 | 9,470 | -0.9% |
| 1989 | -5,079 | -153.6% |
| 1990 | 131,587 | -2690.8% |
| 1991 | -238,965 | -281.6% |
| 1992 | -129,565 | -45.8% |
| 1993 | -95,476 | -26.3% |
| 1994 | -77,371 | -19.0% |
| 1995 | -112,857 | +45.9% |
| 1996 | -52,110 | -53.8% |
| 1997 | -48,437 | -7.0% |
| 1998 | -76,766 | +58.5% |
| 1999 | -84,926 | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 83,013 | -197.7% |
| 2001 | 227,791 | +174.4% |
| 2002 | 86,578 | -62.0% |
| 2003 | 69,185 | -20.1% |
| 2004 | 23,897 | -65.5% |
| 2005 | -1,805 | -107.6% |
| 2006 | -34,052 | +1786.5% |
| 2007 | -6,042 | -82.3% |
| 2008 | 1,182 | -119.6% |
| 2009 | 18,145 | +1435.1% |
| 2010 | 7,983 | -56.0% |
| 2011 | 6,895 | -13.6% |
| 2012 | 988 | -85.7% |
| 2013 | 2,773 | +180.7% |
| 2014 | 485 | -82.5% |
| 2015 | -356 | -173.4% |
| 2016 | 4,657 | -1408.1% |
| 2017 | 1,234 | -73.5% |
| 2018 | -2,741 | -322.1% |
| 2019 | -2,238 | -18.4% |
| 2020 | 1,292 | -157.7% |
| 2021 | -1,544 | -219.5% |
| 2022 | -4,000 | +159.1% |
| 2023 | -4,000 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -11,000 | +175.0% |
| 2025 | -11,309 | +2.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's -11,309 is below the median for low income countries, which is -7,704, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's -11,309 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +2690.8% | -5,079 | 131,587 |
| 2006 | -1786.5% | -1,805 | -34,052 |
| 2009 | +1435.1% | 1,182 | 18,145 |
| 2016 | +1408.1% | -356 | 4,657 |
| 2018 | -322.1% | 1,234 | -2,741 |
| 1991 | -281.6% | 131,587 | -238,965 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -2,973 | -4,485 | -1,851 | 10 |
| 1970s | -10,949 | -15,686 | -4,957 | 10 |
| 1980s | -3,914 | -12,699 | 9,558 | 10 |
| 1990s | -78,489 | -238,965 | 131,587 | 10 |
| 2000s | 46,789 | -34,052 | 227,791 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,968 | -2,741 | 7,983 | 10 |
| 2020s | -5,094 | -11,309 | 1,292 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More financial sector data for Sierra Leone
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0027 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Sierra Leone?
- Net migration in Sierra Leone was -11,309 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 227,791 in 2001.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -238,965 in 1991.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for net migration?
- Sierra Leone ranks 156th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3,076.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.