Difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 2.62 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2.62
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
222nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
7.95
in 1999
All-time low
1.08
in 2014
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 2.62, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and up 123.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone peaked at 7.95 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.08, in 2014.
Sierra Leone ranks 222nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.09 | — |
| 1951 | 2.14 | +2.2% |
| 1952 | 2.12 | -0.8% |
| 1953 | 2.14 | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 2.06 | -4.0% |
| 1955 | 2.15 | +4.7% |
| 1956 | 2.18 | +1.2% |
| 1957 | 2.17 | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 2.24 | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 2.21 | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 2.31 | +4.5% |
| 1961 | 2.31 | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 2.25 | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 2.1 | -6.8% |
| 1964 | 2.01 | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 1.88 | -6.5% |
| 1966 | 1.55 | -17.6% |
| 1967 | 1.41 | -8.9% |
| 1968 | 1.43 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 1.37 | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 1.58 | +14.9% |
| 1971 | 1.77 | +12.0% |
| 1972 | 2.02 | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 2.22 | +10.3% |
| 1974 | 2.57 | +15.6% |
| 1975 | 2.56 | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 2.59 | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 2.58 | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 2.62 | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 2.61 | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 2.59 | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 2.55 | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 2.51 | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 2.46 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 2.38 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 2.29 | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 2.19 | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 2.1 | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 2.04 | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 1.96 | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 1.9 | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 2.37 | +24.6% |
| 1992 | 2.37 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 2.38 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 2.81 | +18.1% |
| 1995 | 3.33 | +18.3% |
| 1996 | 2.22 | -33.3% |
| 1997 | 2.34 | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 4.28 | +82.8% |
| 1999 | 7.95 | +86.0% |
| 2000 | 1.95 | -75.5% |
| 2001 | 1.95 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 1.45 | -25.4% |
| 2003 | 1.37 | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 1.3 | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 1.23 | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 1.31 | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 1.42 | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 1.38 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 1.39 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 1.33 | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 1.21 | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 1.25 | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 1.17 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 1.08 | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 1.1 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.11 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 1.33 | +20.1% |
| 2018 | 1.58 | +18.7% |
| 2019 | 1.75 | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 2.26 | +28.9% |
| 2021 | 2.16 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 2.68 | +23.9% |
| 2023 | 2.62 | -2.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.62 is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.69, 71% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.62 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.08, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in male and female life expectancy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +86.0% | 4.28 | 7.95 |
| 1998 | +82.8% | 2.34 | 4.28 |
| 2000 | -75.5% | 7.95 | 1.95 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.15 | 2.06 | 2.24 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.86 | 1.37 | 2.31 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.31 | 1.58 | 2.62 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.31 | 1.96 | 2.59 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.19 | 1.9 | 7.95 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.48 | 1.23 | 1.95 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.29 | 1.08 | 1.75 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.43 | 2.16 | 2.68 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 219 Nepal 2.71 compare
- 220 Afghanistan 2.67 compare
- 221 Wallis and Futuna 2.65 compare
- 223 Mali 2.59 compare
- 224 Algeria 2.58 compare
- 225 Solomon Islands 2.52 compare
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 difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in Sierra Leone was 2.62 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 7.95 in 1999.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.08 in 2014.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- Sierra Leone ranks 222nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 123.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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