Regions of Sierra Leone: population and official figures
Sierra Leone is divided into 5 regions. The largest by population is Eastern Province with 1,943,610 people (25.7% of the total); the smallest is North West Province with 1,186,050. Population figures are from the 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census, the latest count by Statistics Sierra Leone. Since 2017 the country has five regions: the old Northern Province was split into the Northern Province and the new North West Province (Kambia, Karene and Port Loko), which has its own page. Each region page adds August 2026 inflation from the consumer price index, poverty and electricity from the 2018 Integrated Household Survey, health, water and schooling from the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey, and schools and teachers from the 2025 Annual School Census.
Who governs Sierra Leone's regions?
Provinces (4) and the Western Area: Resident ministers appointed by the president. State administration; not local governments.
How local power works in Sierra Leone · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 5 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Province | 1,943,610 | 2021 | +2.9% |
| 2 | Southern Province | 1,830,881 | 2021 | +4.1% |
| 3 | Northern Province | 1,316,831 | 2021 | -0.4% |
| 4 | Western Area | 1,271,330 | 2021 | -2.7% |
| 5 | North West Province | 1,186,050 | 2021 | +0.3% |
Cities: the largest cities of Sierra Leone.
More on Sierra Leone: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Statistics Sierra Leone: 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census: preliminary report of the final results (Table 3: households; Table D: population by region and local council, 2015-2021), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 00b9b776d0dd…)
- Statistics Sierra Leone: Consumer Price Index press release, August 2026 (Table 1.1: national and regional inflation, December 2021=100), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 efee15bb4ef8…)
- Statistics Sierra Leone (with the World Bank): Methodology for Consumption-Poverty Estimation, 2018, and Poverty Trends 2011-2018 (Tables 6 and 7: poverty and extreme poverty by region, SLIHS 2018), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6e8a6e91612c…)
- Statistics Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) Report 2018 (Table 6.13: households with an EDSA grid connection by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cbe7be8657e9…)
- Statistics Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (with ICF, The DHS Program): Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey 2019, final report: tables by province (water, sanitation, wealth, schooling, fertility, child health, nutrition, HIV, partner violence), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e747e7cf70…)
- Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (published by Statistics Sierra Leone): 2025 Annual School Census Report, annex tables by region (schools, enrolment, teachers, pupil-teacher ratios), school year 2024/25, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8102ec32f4bc…)
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