Sierra Leone - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Sierra Leone was 3,423,961 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 3,423,961 in 2020 and a minimum value of 402,157 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 402,157
1961 421,145
1962 441,132
1963 462,560
1964 486,230
1965 511,151
1966 537,465
1967 565,193
1968 594,479
1969 625,341
1970 657,923
1971 692,321
1972 728,619
1973 766,822
1974 807,083
1975 842,174
1976 873,070
1977 905,305
1978 938,936
1979 973,972
1980 1,010,415
1981 1,047,825
1982 1,086,122
1983 1,126,318
1984 1,169,906
1985 1,217,583
1986 1,266,068
1987 1,314,621
1988 1,362,836
1989 1,404,772
1990 1,436,408
1991 1,456,150
1992 1,466,054
1993 1,469,900
1994 1,473,600
1995 1,481,808
1996 1,495,070
1997 1,513,235
1998 1,539,829
1999 1,578,966
2000 1,633,299
2001 1,705,142
2002 1,793,090
2003 1,890,694
2004 1,988,625
2005 2,084,310
2006 2,174,481
2007 2,257,436
2008 2,335,490
2009 2,412,870
2010 2,492,860
2011 2,575,940
2012 2,661,003
2013 2,748,061
2014 2,837,175
2015 2,928,219
2016 3,021,537
2017 3,117,881
2018 3,217,270
2019 3,319,363
2020 3,423,961

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization