Prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of anemia among children was 73.4% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone, 2000–2019
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of children ages 6-59 months.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone is 73.4%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone peaked at 82.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 73.4%, in 2019.
Sierra Leone ranks 6th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children ages 6-59 months | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 82.2% | — |
| 2001 | 81.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 81.2% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 80.7% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 80.2% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 79.7% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 79.2% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 78.8% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 78.4% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 78.1% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 77.9% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 77.7% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 77.6% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 77.4% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 77.1% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 76.8% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 76.2% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 75.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 74.5% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 73.4% | -1.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 73.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 58.0%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 73.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.4%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 80.0% | 78.1% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.4% | 73.4% | 77.9% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 3 Burkina Faso 76.6% compare
- 4 Guinea 73.8% compare
- 5 Central African Republic 73.6% compare
- 7 Togo 72.4% compare
- 8 Liberia 72.3% compare
- 9 Cote d'Ivoire 72.2% 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of anemia among children in Sierra Leone was 73.4% in 2019, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 82.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among children recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.4% in 2019.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of anemia among children?
- Sierra Leone ranks 6th out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of anemia among children rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among children (% of children ages 6-59 months). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, children ages 6-59 months, is the percentage of children ages 6-59 months whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter, adjusted for altitude.