World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
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Health · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income

Sierra Leone: health in numbers

Life expectancy is 62.0 yrs (2024), 206th of 217 in the world and 37th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy, women is 63.7 yrs (2024), 204th of 217 in the world and 35th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy, men is 60.2 yrs (2024), 205th of 217 in the world and 36th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Life expectancy62.0 yrs2024 · world 206/217 · region 37/48Life expectancy, women63.7 yrs2024 · world 204/217 · region 35/48Life expectancy, men60.2 yrs2024 · world 205/217 · region 36/48Infant mortality54.62024 · world 12/196 · region 12/48
Life expectancy
Sierra LeoneSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
0.020406080199520002005201020152020Sierra Leone62.0 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Life expectancy, women
Sierra LeoneSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
0.020406080199520002005201020152020Sierra Leone63.7 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
18 indicators

Health: Sierra Leone in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Life expectancyLife expectancy at birth, years62.0 yrs2024206/21737/4844.8 yrs51.9 yrs59.7 yrs+14%since 201462.8 yrs65.2 yrs73.5 yrs
Life expectancy, womenLife expectancy at birth, women, years63.7 yrs2024204/21735/4846.0 yrs52.9 yrs61.2 yrs+16%since 201465.0 yrs67.7 yrs76.0 yrs
Life expectancy, menLife expectancy at birth, men, years60.2 yrs2024205/21736/4843.7 yrs50.9 yrs58.2 yrs+13%since 201460.7 yrs62.8 yrs71.1 yrs
Infant mortalityInfant mortality, per 1,000 live births54.6202412/19612/48123.490.861.9−30%since 201447.146.727.7
Under-5 mortalityUnder-5 mortality, per 1,000 live births90.520247/1967/48222.8157.9104.4−33%since 201471.268.837.4
Neonatal mortalityNeonatal mortality, per 1,000 live births28.3202415/19612/4848.038.830.5−18%since 201426.624.917.2
Maternal mortalityMaternal mortality, per 100,000 live births354202319/19418/481,6031,018422−58%since 2013448346197
Measles vaccinationMeasles immunisation, % of children 12–23 months90%2024100/19310/4837%82%87%+10.0 ppsince 201469%67%84%
HIV prevalenceHIV prevalence, % of people 15–491.4%202428/15324/441.6%1.6%1.5%−0.2 ppsince 20143.0%1.6%0.7%
TuberculosisTuberculosis incidence, per 100,000 people372202416/2087/48604494403−18%since 2014205199131
Health spendingCurrent health expenditure, % of GDP4.7%2023131/19322/485.3%5.6%5.7%−3.7 ppsince 20134.9%4.6%10.1%
Out-of-pocket spendingOut-of-pocket health spending, % of health expenditure54.5%202325/1939/4885.7%56.2%52.3%−8.3 ppsince 201330.4%44.5%17.3%
PhysiciansPhysicians per 1,000 people0.132022166/18034/46·0.020.07+415%since 20110.250.341.86
Hospital bedsHospital beds per 1,000 people0.42006——···———3.3
Basic waterBasic drinking water, % of population68.1%2024186/20627/4640.9%51.7%63.4%+11.7 ppsince 201467.5%60.3%91.5%
Basic sanitationBasic sanitation, % of population24.9%2024191/20335/467.7%12.8%21.0%+9.1 ppsince 201437.1%33.3%82.2%
Tobacco useTobacco use, % of adults11.3%2024125/16613/3944.7%25.2%14.1%−13.9 ppsince 20108.9%10.9%20.3%
Road deathsRoad traffic deaths, per 100,000 people33.0201914/18611/4831.230.033.02019+8.2%since 200927.428.716.7
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Sierra Leone and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Sierra Leone. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorSierra LeoneGuineaLiberia
Life expectancy62.0 yrs202460.9 yrs202462.3 yrs2024
Life expectancy, women63.7 yrs202462.1 yrs202463.6 yrs2024
Life expectancy, men60.2 yrs202459.7 yrs202461.0 yrs2024
Infant mortality54.6202459.8202463.22024
Under-5 mortality90.5202492.1202486.42024
Neonatal mortality28.3202429.8202432.92024
Maternal mortality354202349420236282023
Measles vaccination90%202460%202482%2024
HIV prevalence1.4%20241.3%20240.9%2024
Guinea: healthLiberia: health
Health in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedHealth: low-income countries25 economies rankedHealth: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesSierra Leone: all key statisticscountry profile