Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS was 44,000 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 44,000 for children orphaned by hiv/aids in 2024.
The figure is down 6.4% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, children orphaned by hiv/aids in Sierra Leone peaked at 50,000 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,600, in 1990.
That places Sierra Leone 36th out of 138 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,600 | — |
| 1991 | 2,100 | +31.2% |
| 1992 | 2,700 | +28.6% |
| 1993 | 3,400 | +25.9% |
| 1994 | 4,300 | +26.5% |
| 1995 | 5,300 | +23.3% |
| 1996 | 6,500 | +22.6% |
| 1997 | 7,800 | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 9,300 | +19.2% |
| 1999 | 11,000 | +18.3% |
| 2000 | 13,000 | +18.2% |
| 2001 | 15,000 | +15.4% |
| 2002 | 17,000 | +13.3% |
| 2003 | 19,000 | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 22,000 | +15.8% |
| 2005 | 24,000 | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 27,000 | +12.5% |
| 2007 | 29,000 | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 32,000 | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 34,000 | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 36,000 | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 38,000 | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 40,000 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 42,000 | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 44,000 | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 46,000 | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 47,000 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 48,000 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 49,000 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 49,000 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 50,000 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 50,000 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 49,000 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 47,000 | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 44,000 | -6.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 44,000 is below the median for low income countries, which is 48,500, 91% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 44,000 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,500, 53% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5,400 | 1,600 | 11,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,200 | 13,000 | 34,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 43,900 | 36,000 | 49,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 48,000 | 44,000 | 50,000 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children orphaned by hiv/aids in Sierra Leone?
- Children orphaned by hiv/aids in Sierra Leone was 44,000 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates.
- What is the highest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 50,000 in 2020.
- What is the lowest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,600 in 1990.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for children orphaned by hiv/aids?
- Sierra Leone ranks 36th out of 138 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children orphaned by hiv/aids rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, published as part of Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is the estimated number of children who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS before age 15 since the epidemic began. Some of the orphaned children included in this cumulative total are no longer alive; others are no longer under age 15.