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Demographics of Sierra Leone

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0–14 years
  
41.9%

Population
  
6.092 million (2013)

GNI per capita
  
1,690 PPP dollars (2013)

Official languages
  
English, Bengali

15–64 years
  
54.4%

Life expectancy
  
45.33 years (2012)

Population growth rate
  
1.9% annual change (2013)

Demographics of Sierra Leone httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons11

Density
  
80.06 inhabitants per sq km.

Birth rate
  
37.40 births/1,000 inhabitants

Death rate
  
11.03 deaths/1,000 inhabitants

Infant mortality rate
  
73.29 deaths/1,000 births

Fertility rate
  
4.78 births per woman (2012)

The demographics of Sierra Leone are made up of an indigenous population from 18 ethnic groups. The Temne in the north and the Mende in the South are the largest. About 60,000 are Krio, the descendants of freed slaves who returned to Sierra Leone from Great Britain, North America and slave ships captured on the high seas. In addition, about 5,000 Lebanese, 1000 Indians, and 5,000 Europeans reside in the country.

Contents

Map of Republic of Sierra Leone

In the past, some Sierra Leoneans were noted for their educational achievements, trading activity, entrepreneurial skills, and arts and crafts work, particularly woodcarving. Many are part of larger ethnic networks extending into several countries, which link West African states in the area. Their level of education and infrastructure have declined sharply over the last 30 years.

Population

According to the 2010 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 5 868 000 in 2010, compared to only 1 895 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43%, 55.1% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 1.9% was 65 years or older .

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Sierra Leone not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):

Fertility data as of 2013 (DHS Program):

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population growth rate

2.33% growth rate (2014 est.)

Birth rate

38.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

11.49 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Net migration rate

-3.86 migrants/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning.

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.) at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.) at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Maternal Mortality Ratio

890 deaths/100 000 births (2010)

Sierra Leone's MMR is the worst of any country in the world, according to the 2000 WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA report.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 56.55 years male: 54.08 years female: 59.11 years (2012 est.) total population: 42.84 years male: 40.33 years female: 45.42 years (2003 est.) total population: 45.25 years male: 42.37 years female: 48.21 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.9 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Health expenditures

13.1% of GDP (2009)

Physicians density

0.016 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2008)

HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 1.6% (2009 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (2009 est.) deaths: 2,800 (2008 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis aerosolized dist or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)

Nationality

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%) Creole 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century) Refugees from Liberia's recent civil war Small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Religions

Islam 60% Christian 10% Indigenous beliefs 30%

Languages

English (official, regular use limited to literate minority) Mende (principal vernacular in the south) Temne (principal vernacular in the north) Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed American and West Indian slaves and Liberated Africans who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Education expenditure

4.3% of GDP (2009)

Literacy

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

Total population: 35.1% Male: 46.9% Female: 24.4% (2004 est.) Total population: 31.4% Male: 45.4% Female: 18.2% (1995 est.)

References

Demographics of Sierra Leone Wikipedia


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