Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Under-five deaths was 23,171 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
23,171
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
41st
of 201 countries
All-time high
48,437
in 1992
All-time low
23,171
in 2024
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Under-five deaths in Sierra Leone, 1961–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, under-five deaths in Sierra Leone stood at 23,171. That is the lowest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths in Sierra Leone peaked at 48,437 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 23,171, in 2024.
Sierra Leone ranks 41st of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Under-five deaths in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 40,528 | — |
| 1962 | 40,593 | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 40,665 | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 40,756 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 40,768 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 40,758 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | 40,767 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 40,757 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 40,711 | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 40,713 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 40,716 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 40,737 | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 40,787 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 40,988 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 41,144 | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 41,267 | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 41,390 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 41,576 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 41,751 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 41,900 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 42,141 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 42,440 | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 42,795 | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 43,224 | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 43,692 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 44,179 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 44,761 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 45,386 | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 46,076 | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 46,771 | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 47,940 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 48,437 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 48,151 | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 47,888 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 47,451 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 46,672 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 45,837 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 45,155 | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 44,405 | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 43,470 | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 42,926 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 43,209 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 43,397 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 43,024 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 42,544 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 41,995 | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 41,052 | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 39,871 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 38,637 | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 37,316 | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 36,000 | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 34,728 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 33,377 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 32,934 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 33,169 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 29,487 | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 28,531 | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 27,645 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 26,833 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 26,058 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 25,305 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 24,567 | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 23,868 | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 23,171 | -2.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 23,171 is below the median for low income countries, which is 52,477, 44% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 23,171 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,761, 73% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 40,700 | 40,528 | 40,768 | 9 |
| 1970s | 41,107 | 40,713 | 41,751 | 10 |
| 1980s | 43,659 | 41,900 | 46,076 | 10 |
| 1990s | 46,871 | 44,405 | 48,437 | 10 |
| 2000s | 42,012 | 38,637 | 43,470 | 10 |
| 2010s | 32,002 | 26,833 | 37,316 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,594 | 23,171 | 26,058 | 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)
- 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 under-five deaths in Sierra Leone?
- Under-five deaths in Sierra Leone was 23,171 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 48,437 in 1992.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,171 in 2024.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for under-five deaths?
- Sierra Leone ranks 41st out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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