By George M.O Williams
Sierra Leone reported a significant increase in births in 2024, with 246,437 children born, representing a rise of 11,064 or 4.7% from the previous year, according to the Provisional Annual Report on Vital Events for 2024, that was published by the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA).
The births were almost evenly split between genders, with 120,754 males (49%) and 125,683 females (51%), yielding a sex ratio of 96 males per 100 females.
Highlight Fertility Trends
Mothers aged 20-24 were the most prolific, accounting for 76,530 births, or 31.2% of all live births. However, the report highlighted a concerning trend: adolescent mothers (aged 10-19) contributed 42,111 births, representing 17.2% of all births. This marks the highest percentage of births to adolescent mothers since 2020, when the figure stood at 16%, according to the Provisional figures.
October recorded the highest number of births in a single month, with 22,636 babies born, followed by September with 21,008 births. The lowest monthly figure was in February, which saw 19,380 births.
There were 3,355 stillbirths in 2024, down by 13 percent or 487 from 2023.
This report provides critical insights into Sierra Leone’s demographic trends, highlighting both progress and areas of concern, particularly the rising number of adolescent births.