Mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Mobile phone subscriptions was 8.93 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone, 1980–2022
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone is 8.93 million, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.5% on the previous year and up 304.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone peaked at 8.93 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Sierra Leone ranks 95th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 11,940 | — |
| 2001 | 26,895 | +125.3% |
| 2002 | 67,000 | +149.1% |
| 2003 | 113,214 | +69.0% |
| 2007 | 776,000 | +585.4% |
| 2008 | 1.01 million | +30.0% |
| 2009 | 1.16 million | +15.0% |
| 2010 | 2.00 million | +72.4% |
| 2011 | 2.14 million | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 2.21 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 4.00 million | +81.0% |
| 2014 | 4.76 million | +18.9% |
| 2015 | 5.66 million | +18.9% |
| 2016 | 6.28 million | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 6.62 million | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 6.36 million | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 6.73 million | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 6.88 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 8.23 million | +19.5% |
| 2022 | 8.93 million | +8.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 8.93 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.00 million, 60% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 8.93 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.69 million, 65% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +585.4% | 113,214 | 776,000 |
| 2002 | +149.1% | 26,895 | 67,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 451,978 | 11,940 | 1.16 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 4.68 million | 2.00 million | 6.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.01 million | 6.88 million | 8.93 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More science & technology data for Sierra Leone
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 107.88 (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.08 units per person (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 8.93 million (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 123.71 units per square kilometre (2022)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 6.14 % change on previous year (2022)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 8.53 % change on previous year (2022)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 86.32 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Sierra Leone was 8.93 million in 2022, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 8.93 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Sierra Leone ranks 95th out of 212 countries with data for 2022.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 304.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).