Military personnel in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Military personnel was 9,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
9,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
127th
of 194 countries
All-time high
13,000 people
in 2002
All-time low
1,000 people
in 1961
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Military personnel in Sierra Leone, 1961–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 9,000 people for military personnel in 2022.
That represents a change of down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Sierra Leone peaked at 13,000 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1,000 people, in 1961.
Sierra Leone ranks 127th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,000 people | — |
| 1962 | 2,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1963 | 3,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1964 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1970 | 3,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1971 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 5,000 people | +66.7% |
| 1975 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3,000 people | -40.0% |
| 1977 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1978 | 1,000 people | -75.0% |
| 1979 | 2,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1980 | 2,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4,000 people | +100.0% |
| 1982 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 6,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1984 | 4,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1985 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 6,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1988 | 4,000 people | -33.3% |
| 1989 | 4,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1991 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 8,000 people | +60.0% |
| 1993 | 5,000 people | -37.5% |
| 1994 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 4,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1999 | 3,000 people | -25.0% |
| 2000 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 6,000 people | +100.0% |
| 2002 | 13,000 people | +116.7% |
| 2003 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 11,000 people | -15.4% |
| 2008 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 11,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9,000 people | -18.2% |
| 2017 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 9,000 people | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 9,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 33,000 people, 27% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 9,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,000 people, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,778 people | 1,000 people | 4,000 people | 9 |
| 1970s | 3,200 people | 1,000 people | 5,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,200 people | 2,000 people | 6,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,000 people | 3,000 people | 8,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,700 people | 3,000 people | 13,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,200 people | 9,000 people | 11,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 9,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 127 Botswana 9,000 people compare
- 127 Central African Republic 9,000 people compare
- 127 New Zealand 9,000 people compare
- 127 Tajikistan 9,000 people compare
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Sierra Leone?
- Military personnel in Sierra Leone was 9,000 people in 2022, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 13,000 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 people in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for military personnel?
- Sierra Leone ranks 127th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.