Homicides in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Homicides was 176 homicides in 2020. ▲ Rising
Homicides in Sierra Leone, 2004–2020
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides.
Analysis
The most recent figure for homicides in Sierra Leone is 176 homicides, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Sierra Leone peaked at 187 homicides in 2011 and was at its lowest, 99 homicides, in 2005.
That places Sierra Leone 82nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Homicides in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | homicides | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 112 homicides | — |
| 2005 | 99 homicides | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 101 homicides | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 134 homicides | +32.7% |
| 2008 | 184 homicides | +37.3% |
| 2009 | 158 homicides | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 163 homicides | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 187 homicides | +14.7% |
| 2012 | 113 homicides | -39.6% |
| 2015 | 124 homicides | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 176 homicides | +41.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 176 homicides is below the median for low income countries, which is 553.5 homicides, 32% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 176 homicides is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 539.5 homicides, 33% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 131.33 homicides | 99 homicides | 184 homicides | 6 |
| 2010s | 146.75 homicides | 113 homicides | 187 homicides | 4 |
| 2020s | 176 homicides | 176 homicides | 176 homicides | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
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 homicides in Sierra Leone?
- Homicides in Sierra Leone was 176 homicides in 2020, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 187 homicides in 2011.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 99 homicides in 2005.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for homicides?
- Sierra Leone ranks 82nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of intentional homicides.