Urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Urban area over the long-term was 633.37 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
633.37 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
114th
of 202 countries
All-time high
633.37 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0002 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone is 633.37 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone peaked at 633.37 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0002 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Sierra Leone ranks 114th of 202 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.
Urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1200 | 0.002 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1300 | 0.0066 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1400 | 0.022 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1500 | 0.0733 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1600 | 0.2442 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1700 | 0.8141 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1710 | 1.19 km² per grid cell | +46.1% |
| 1720 | 1.6 km² per grid cell | +34.6% |
| 1730 | 2.08 km² per grid cell | +29.9% |
| 1740 | 2.64 km² per grid cell | +26.7% |
| 1750 | 3.28 km² per grid cell | +24.4% |
| 1760 | 4.02 km² per grid cell | +22.6% |
| 1770 | 4.87 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1780 | 5.85 km² per grid cell | +20.1% |
| 1790 | 6.97 km² per grid cell | +19.2% |
| 1800 | 8.25 km² per grid cell | +18.4% |
| 1810 | 9.71 km² per grid cell | +17.7% |
| 1820 | 11.38 km² per grid cell | +17.1% |
| 1830 | 13.27 km² per grid cell | +16.6% |
| 1840 | 15.43 km² per grid cell | +16.2% |
| 1850 | 17.87 km² per grid cell | +15.8% |
| 1860 | 20.57 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1870 | 23.92 km² per grid cell | +16.3% |
| 1880 | 28.09 km² per grid cell | +17.4% |
| 1890 | 32.97 km² per grid cell | +17.4% |
| 1900 | 38.64 km² per grid cell | +17.2% |
| 1910 | 44.88 km² per grid cell | +16.1% |
| 1920 | 49.89 km² per grid cell | +11.2% |
| 1930 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +11.8% |
| 1940 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 55.76 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 56.24 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1956 | 57.31 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 58.45 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 59.69 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 61.02 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 62.47 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 64.03 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 65.73 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 67.56 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 69.56 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 71.71 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 74.05 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 76.58 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 79.34 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 82.33 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 85.57 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 89.85 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 94.61 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 99.9 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 105.77 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 111.57 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 116.01 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 120.82 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 126 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 131.53 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 137.38 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 142.86 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 148.51 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 154.6 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 161.55 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 169.61 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 177.78 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 186.43 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 194.96 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 201.59 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 205.09 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 210.42 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 212.76 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 213.33 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 214.03 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 216.4 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 217.09 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 219.61 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 224.79 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 233.61 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 246.82 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 259.52 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 274.91 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 292.03 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 309.43 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 325.99 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 341.26 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 355.48 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 368.99 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 382.46 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 360.13 km² per grid cell | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 377.42 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 395.2 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 353.56 km² per grid cell | -10.5% |
| 2014 | 369.35 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 385.55 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 402.16 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 419.17 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 436.58 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 454.39 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 472.59 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 557.73 km² per grid cell | +18.0% |
| 2022 | 576.12 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 594.86 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 613.94 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 633.37 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 633.37 km² per grid cell is below the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 71% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 633.37 km² per grid cell is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 86% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +233.3% | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +233.3% | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +233.3% | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.0066 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +233.3% | 0.0066 km² per grid cell | 0.022 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +233.3% | 0.022 km² per grid cell | 0.0733 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +233.3% | 0.0733 km² per grid cell | 0.2442 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0066 km² per grid cell | 0.0066 km² per grid cell | 0.0066 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.022 km² per grid cell | 0.022 km² per grid cell | 0.022 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0733 km² per grid cell | 0.0733 km² per grid cell | 0.0733 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.2442 km² per grid cell | 0.2442 km² per grid cell | 0.2442 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.8141 km² per grid cell | 0.8141 km² per grid cell | 0.8141 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.19 km² per grid cell | 1.19 km² per grid cell | 1.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.6 km² per grid cell | 1.6 km² per grid cell | 1.6 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.08 km² per grid cell | 2.08 km² per grid cell | 2.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.64 km² per grid cell | 2.64 km² per grid cell | 2.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.28 km² per grid cell | 3.28 km² per grid cell | 3.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.02 km² per grid cell | 4.02 km² per grid cell | 4.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.87 km² per grid cell | 4.87 km² per grid cell | 4.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 5.85 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.97 km² per grid cell | 6.97 km² per grid cell | 6.97 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 8.25 km² per grid cell | 8.25 km² per grid cell | 8.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.71 km² per grid cell | 9.71 km² per grid cell | 9.71 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 11.38 km² per grid cell | 11.38 km² per grid cell | 11.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 13.27 km² per grid cell | 13.27 km² per grid cell | 13.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 15.43 km² per grid cell | 15.43 km² per grid cell | 15.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 17.87 km² per grid cell | 17.87 km² per grid cell | 17.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 20.57 km² per grid cell | 20.57 km² per grid cell | 20.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 23.92 km² per grid cell | 23.92 km² per grid cell | 23.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 28.09 km² per grid cell | 28.09 km² per grid cell | 28.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 32.97 km² per grid cell | 32.97 km² per grid cell | 32.97 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 38.64 km² per grid cell | 38.64 km² per grid cell | 38.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 44.88 km² per grid cell | 44.88 km² per grid cell | 44.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 49.89 km² per grid cell | 49.89 km² per grid cell | 49.89 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 57.15 km² per grid cell | 55.76 km² per grid cell | 61.02 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 71.33 km² per grid cell | 62.47 km² per grid cell | 82.33 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 108.16 km² per grid cell | 85.57 km² per grid cell | 131.53 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 167.53 km² per grid cell | 137.38 km² per grid cell | 201.59 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 216.71 km² per grid cell | 205.09 km² per grid cell | 233.61 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 315.69 km² per grid cell | 246.82 km² per grid cell | 382.46 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 395.35 km² per grid cell | 353.56 km² per grid cell | 454.39 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 574.77 km² per grid cell | 472.59 km² per grid cell | 633.37 km² per grid cell | 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 urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone?
- Urban area over the long-term in Sierra Leone was 633.37 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 633.37 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0002 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Sierra Leone ranks 114th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.