Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Happiness vs. life satisfaction was 3.25 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone, 2011–2025
Source: Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone is 3.25, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and down 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.71 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2024.
Sierra Leone ranks 155th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3.59 | — |
| 2012 | 4.32 | +20.4% |
| 2014 | 4.51 | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 4.63 | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 4.71 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 4.57 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 4.37 | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 3.93 | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 3.85 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 3.57 | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 3.14 | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 3.25 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 3 | -7.6% |
| 2025 | 3.25 | +8.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.25 is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.06, 80% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.25 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.38, 74% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.33 | 3.59 | 4.71 | 8 |
| 2020s | 3.34 | 3 | 3.85 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 152 Zimbabwe 3.35 compare
- 153 Malawi 3.28 compare
- 154 Rwanda 3.27 compare
- 156 South Sudan 2.82 compare
- 157 Afghanistan 1.45 compare
More social development data for Sierra Leone
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,925 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,925 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone?
- Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Sierra Leone was 3.25 in 2025, according to Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest happiness vs. life satisfaction recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.71 in 2016.
- What is the lowest happiness vs. life satisfaction recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2024.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for happiness vs. life satisfaction?
- Sierra Leone ranks 155th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is happiness vs. life satisfaction rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Happiness vs. life satisfaction. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.