MigrantoSierra Leonean Diaspora
63.6K Sierra Leoneans live abroad — 1% of the population of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leonean diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 59% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Senegal | 15843 |
| Liberia | 13878 |
| Guinea | 8065 |
| Nigeria | 4679 |
| Australia | 4218 |
| Ghana | 3061 |
| Belgium | 3018 |
| Gambia | 2856 |
| Mali | 2774 |
| Italy | 2470 |
| Norway | 576 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 491 |
| Denmark | 344 |
| Libya | 265 |
| Greece | 187 |
| Namibia | 180 |
| Finland | 171 |
| South Africa | 142 |
| Togo | 106 |
| Brazil | 100 |
| Portugal | 65 |
| Hungary | 35 |
| Iceland | 29 |
| Luxembourg | 23 |
| Egypt | 22 |
| Cape Verde | 15 |
| Estonia | 8 |
| Slovenia | 5 |
| Bolivia | 2 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
82% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Sierra Leonean diaspora in numbers
Most Sierra Leoneans abroad live in Senegal
25% of the diaspora lives in Senegal, while the next country accounts for just 22%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 38% to 25%.
The share of the diaspora living in Africa has declined since 1990
97.4% of the diaspora lived in Africa in 1990, compared with 82.3% today.
Sierra Leonean diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 42497 |
| 1995 | 423611 |
| 2000 | 459995 |
| 2005 | 89467 |
| 2010 | 57946 |
| 2015 | 59400 |
| 2020 | 64980 |
| 2024 | 63631 |
Largest communities over time
Sierra Leoneans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Senegal | Liberia | Guinea | Nigeria | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12313 | 7943 | 15985 | 1553 | 97 |
| 1995 | 12876 | 124102 | 273125 | 1574 | 158 |
| 2000 | 11638 | 71154 | 365828 | 1658 | 260 |
| 2005 | 12523 | 26426 | 27115 | 3294 | 1490 |
| 2010 | 14007 | 12578 | 13557 | 3365 | 3265 |
| 2015 | 14963 | 14536 | 8683 | 4073 | 3989 |
| 2020 | 15453 | 16853 | 8342 | 4363 | 4094 |
| 2024 | 15843 | 13878 | 8065 | 4679 | 4218 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Sierra Leoneans in each country has changed since the selected year
Sierra Leoneans among immigrants in other countries
Where Sierra Leoneans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Sierra Leoneans live outside Sierra Leone?
Around 63.6K Sierra Leoneans live abroad, the world's #159 largest diaspora.
Where do most Sierra Leoneans abroad live?
Most Sierra Leoneans live in Senegal, Liberia and Guinea — these three countries account for about 59% of all Sierra Leoneans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Sierra Leonean population outside Sierra Leone?
Senegal is home to the largest Sierra Leonean community abroad — 15.8K people, about 25% of all Sierra Leoneans living abroad.
What share of the population of Sierra Leone lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Sierra Leone lives abroad — that's 63.6K out of a total population of 8.6M.
Is the Sierra Leonean diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Sierra Leoneans living abroad has grown from 59.4K to 63.6K, about 7%.
Where does the data on the Sierra Leonean diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Sierra Leone who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Sierra Leone
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