New HIV infections in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: New HIV infections was 2,493 infections in 2024. ▼ Falling
New HIV infections in Sierra Leone, 1990–2024
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in infections.
Analysis
The most recent figure for new hiv infections in Sierra Leone is 2,493 infections, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.9% on the previous year and down 56.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, new hiv infections in Sierra Leone peaked at 6,487 infections in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2,493 infections, in 2024.
That places Sierra Leone 53rd out of 144 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
New HIV infections in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | infections | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,925 infections | — |
| 1991 | 4,631 infections | +18.0% |
| 1992 | 4,881 infections | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 5,449 infections | +11.6% |
| 1994 | 5,816 infections | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 5,871 infections | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 6,050 infections | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 6,198 infections | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 6,166 infections | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 6,142 infections | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 5,990 infections | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 6,079 infections | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 6,399 infections | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 6,408 infections | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 6,487 infections | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 6,419 infections | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 6,448 infections | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 6,439 infections | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 6,119 infections | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 6,049 infections | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 5,901 infections | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 5,726 infections | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 5,552 infections | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 5,520 infections | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 5,766 infections | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 5,773 infections | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 5,658 infections | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 5,418 infections | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 5,032 infections | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 4,789 infections | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 4,766 infections | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 4,054 infections | -15.0% |
| 2022 | 3,543 infections | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 2,864 infections | -19.2% |
| 2024 | 2,493 infections | -12.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5,513 infections | 3,925 infections | 6,198 infections | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,284 infections | 5,990 infections | 6,487 infections | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,513 infections | 4,789 infections | 5,901 infections | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,544 infections | 2,493 infections | 4,766 infections | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 3.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0161 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0136 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is new hiv infections in Sierra Leone?
- New hiv infections in Sierra Leone was 2,493 infections in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest new hiv infections recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 6,487 infections in 2004.
- What is the lowest new hiv infections recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,493 infections in 2024.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for new hiv infections?
- Sierra Leone ranks 53rd out of 144 countries with data for 2024.
- Is new hiv infections rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of New HIV infections. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people newly infected with HIV in the last 12 months. This is the central estimate.