Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total dependency ratio was 71.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone is 71.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone peaked at 90.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 71.6%, in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 44th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 72.6% | 72.3% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 75.5% | 72.5% | 79.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.8% | 80.1% | 85.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 86.8% | 85.4% | 88.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 89.0% | 88.2% | 89.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 89.2% | 87.5% | 90.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 76.5% | 86.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.5% | 71.6% | 75.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.1247 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8874 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.2824 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.1314 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.1178 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 771.75 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone?
- Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone was 71.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 90.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.6% in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total dependency ratio?
- Sierra Leone ranks 44th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).