The demographics of Sierra Leone are made up of an indigenous population from 18 ethnic groups.

About 60,000 are Krio, the descendants of freed slaves who returned to Sierra Leone from Great Britain, North America and slave ships captured on the high seas.

In the past, some Sierra Leoneans were noted for their educational achievements, trading activity, entrepreneurial skills, and arts and crafts work, particularly woodcarving.

Many are part of larger ethnic networks extending into several countries, which link West African states in the area.

The website Our World in Data prepared the following estimates based on statistics from the Population Department of the United Nations.