Sierra Leone Fertility Rate
Total fertility rate SP.DYN.TFRT.IN
Sierra Leone's fertility rate was 3.58 in 2025, ranked 36th globally. This represents a 5.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's fertility rate stood at 3.58 in 2025, a decline of +0.21 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.58 by 2025. Sierra Leone ranked 36th globally.
Sierra Leone's fertility rate has undergone significant fluctuations over the past six and a half decades. Beginning at 6.17 in 1960, the country's fertility rate rose to its all-time peak of 6.61 in 1987, a period marked by limited access to family planning resources. However, the rate has since declined, reaching its all-time trough of 3.58 in 2025, a value only marginally lower than that of Senegal, a peer country with a comparable fertility rate of 3.66. This substantial decrease in fertility rate is a notable trend, particularly when considering the country's historical peak. The decline in fertility rate is likely to continue as access to family planning resources expands and education levels improve, potentially leading to a stable or even lower fertility rate in the future. If fertility rates were to decline further, it would likely have significant implications for Sierra Leone's population growth and demographic structure, a trend that would be worth monitoring closely.
Data & projection
| Year | Fertility Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 3.48 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 3.58 | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.58 | −0.21 | #36 |
| 2023 | 3.79 | −0.09 | #183 |
| 2022 | 3.88 | −0.10 | #184 |
| 2021 | 3.98 | −0.10 | #185 |
| 2020 | 4.08 | −0.11 | #187 |
| 2019 | 4.19 | −0.10 | #187 |
| 2018 | 4.29 | −0.10 | #188 |
| 2017 | 4.39 | −0.08 | #187 |
| 2016 | 4.47 | −0.08 | #187 |
| 2015 | 4.55 | −0.16 | #187 |
| 2014 | 4.70 | −0.17 | #190 |
| 2013 | 4.87 | −0.19 | #190 |
| 2012 | 5.06 | −0.15 | #195 |
| 2011 | 5.21 | −0.12 | #197 |
| 2010 | 5.33 | −0.12 | #198 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sierra Leone matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw fertility rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's fertility rate was 3.58 in 2025. Ranked 36th globally. This represents a 5.5% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's fertility rate peaked at 6.61 in 1987.
The lowest fertility rate in Sierra Leone was 3.58 in 2025.
Sierra Leone ranks 36th globally in fertility rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.TFRT.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sierra Leone's fertility rate is projected to reach 3.58 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The fertility rate of Sierra Leone in 2025 was 3.58. This ranks 36th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_fertility-rate,
title = {Sierra Leone Fertility Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/fertility-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}