Political Polarization Score in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Political Polarization Score was 0.639 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.639
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
76th
of 174 countries
All-time high
1.59
in 1996
All-time low
-0.724
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in Sierra Leone, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for political polarization score in Sierra Leone is 0.639, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 191.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.59 in 1996 and was at its lowest, -0.724, in 1900.
Sierra Leone ranks 76th of 174 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.
Political Polarization Score in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.724 | — |
| 1901 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -0.724 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -0.378 | -47.8% |
| 1953 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -0.378 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -0.135 | -64.3% |
| 1963 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.246 | -282.2% |
| 1969 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.788 | +220.3% |
| 1992 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.25 | +58.2% |
| 1994 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.59 | +27.3% |
| 1997 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.59 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.823 | -48.2% |
| 2003 | 0.219 | -73.4% |
| 2004 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.143 | -34.7% |
| 2021 | -0.175 | -222.4% |
| 2022 | 0.84 | -580.0% |
| 2023 | 0.639 | -23.9% |
| 2024 | 0.639 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.639 | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 0.639 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.987, 65% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 0.639 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.425, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.724 | -0.724 | -0.724 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.724 | -0.724 | -0.724 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.724 | -0.724 | -0.724 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.724 | -0.724 | -0.724 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.724 | -0.724 | -0.724 | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.4472 | -0.724 | -0.378 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.1074 | -0.378 | 0.246 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.246 | 0.246 | 0.246 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.246 | 0.246 | 0.246 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.19 | 0.246 | 1.59 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5532 | 0.219 | 1.59 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.219 | 0.219 | 0.219 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4542 | -0.175 | 0.84 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
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 political polarization score in Sierra Leone?
- Political polarization score in Sierra Leone was 0.639 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.59 in 1996.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.724 in 1900.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for political polarization score?
- Sierra Leone ranks 76th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 191.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.