The demographics of Sierra Leone are made up of an indigenous population from 18 ethnic groups. The Temne in the north and the Mende in the south are the largest. 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 addition, about 5,000 Lebanese, 1,000 Indians, and 5,000 Europeans reside in the country. 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. Their level of education and infrastructure have declined sharply over the last 30 years. Population According to the total population was in , compared to only 1 895 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43%, 55.1% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 1.9% was 65 years or older . Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020): Vital statistics Registration of vital events is in Sierra Leone not complete. The website Our World in Data prepared the following estimates based on statistics from the Population Department of the United Nations. Fertility and Births Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): Other demographic statistics Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022. One birth every 2 minutes One death every 6 minutes One net migrant every 131 minutes Net gain of one person every 3 minutes The following demographic are from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise indicated. Population 8,692,606 (2022 est.) 6,312,212 (July 2018 est.) Religions Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 41.38% (male 1,369,942/female 1,371,537) 15-24 years: 18.83% (male 610,396/female 636,880) 25-54 years: 32.21% (male 1,020,741/female 1,112,946) 55-64 years: 3.89% (male 121,733/female 135,664) 65 years and over: 3.7% (2020 est.) (male 100,712/female 144,382) 0-14 years: 41.71% (male 1,314,905 /female 1,317,921) 15-24 years: 18.6% (male 572,274 /female 602,105) 25-54 years: 32.23% (male 973,698 /female 1,060,688) 55-64 years: 3.7% (male 110,176 /female 123,268) 65 years and over: 3.76% (male 97,922 /female 139,255) (2018 est.) Birth rate 32.2 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 24th 36 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 18th 38.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) Death rate