# Eastern Province, Sierra Leone – Districts, Population & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/

Province · Sierra Leone 

# Eastern Province

Eastern Province is a province of Sierra Leone. It had an estimated **1,831,156 people** in 2020 on 15,685 km² (about 117 per km²). Its main town is Kenema. It is divided into 3 districts. 2,471 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 281 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 1,831,156people (2020)
- 15,685km²
- 3districts
- 281mapped services

## How many people live in Eastern Province?

Eastern Province had an estimated **1,831,156 people** in 2020 — 23.2% of Sierra Leone, 2nd of 4 provinces. There are 984 women for every 1,000 men (above the Sierra Leone figure of 970). Spread over 15,685 km², that is about **117 people per km²**, 3rd of 4 provinces.

40.8% of people are children under 15 and 3.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 19 across Sierra Leone). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 80 children and older people.

0–4 ****242,360**

5–9 ****286,346**

10–14 ****218,878**

15–19 ****225,572**

20–24 ****170,991**

25–29 ****156,804**

30–34 ****111,998**

35–39 ****108,695**

40–44 ****77,307**

45–49 ****62,650**

50–54 ****48,286**

55–59 ****28,560**

60–64 ****29,077**

65–69 ****19,033**

70–74 ****16,921**

75–79 ****10,261**

80+ ****17,401**

Source: [Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) _ Population and Housing Census / UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-sle).

## Where is Eastern Province?

Eastern Province lies in [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). It borders 2 other provinces: [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/) and [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/). By area it is the 3rd largest of 5 provinces in Sierra Leone. It covers 21.7% of [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). The centre of Eastern Province is about 265 km in a straight line from Freetown, the capital. The centre point is at 8.2089° N, 10.8452° W.

Source: [Government of Sierra Leone via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-sle).

## Things to see in and around Eastern Province

OpenStreetMap lists 7 named sights in Eastern Province: 4 nature reserves; 1 attraction; 1 monument; 1 viewpoint.

- Gola Central · nature reserve
- Gola North · nature reserve
- Gola South · nature reserve
- Tiwai Island · nature reserve
- Resettlement · viewpoint
- Tiwai Island · attraction
- Big Tree · monument

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Eastern Province

- Time zoneUTC+0, no daylight saving · Africa/Freetown
- CurrencyLeone (SLE)
- Country calling code+232
- LanguagesEnglish, Mende, Timne
- Plug typesType G · 230 V
- Driving sideRight

### Nearest airports

- Spriggs Payne Airport (MLW) · Monrovia214 km
- Roberts International Airport (ROB) · Monrovia226 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:25) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 06:48, sunset around 18:27).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 07:01 18:42 11.7 h 

Feb 07:01 18:53 11.9 h 

Mar 06:51 18:54 12.1 h 

Apr 06:34 18:52 12.3 h 

May 06:24 18:54 12.5 h 

Jun 06:25 19:01 12.6 h 

Jul 06:32 19:05 12.6 h 

Aug 06:36 19:00 12.4 h 

Sep 06:33 18:44 12.2 h 

Oct 06:30 18:27 12.0 h 

Nov 06:35 18:20 11.8 h 

Dec 06:48 18:27 11.6 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Eastern Province

District People per km² Area km² Chiefdoms Services 

[Kenema District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/) 679,994 107 6,355 17 73 

[Kailahun District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/) 586,886 149 3,938 14 167 

[Kono District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kono/) 564,276 105 5,393 15 41 

Source: [Government of Sierra Leone via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-sle); [Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) _ Population and Housing Census / UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-sle).

## Largest towns in Eastern Province

- Kenema255,110
- Koidu128,030
- Segbwema16,532
- Kailahun14,085
- Yengema13,358
- Pendembu8,780
- Blama8,146
- Panguma7,965
- Barma7,529
- Boajibu7,384
- Bunumbu7,355
- Tombodu5,985
- Daru5,958
- Motema5,474
- Buedu5,412

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Eastern Province

Named natural and historic features inside Eastern Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

476 rivers and streams.

- Bafi
- Bagbe
- Bandafayi
- Bando
- Banga
- Bangaw
- Bangaye
- Bangba
- Bangea Kuli
- Bangea Telif
- Bangi
- Bangu
- Bangul
- Baru
- Baya
- Baye
- Bayi
- Beeya
- Bejo
- Berigbe
- Besikonde
- Bewuye
- Blawo
- Bo

…and 452 more.

### Coast and islands

1 island.

- Tiwai Island

### Hills and mountains

81 hills; 65 mountains; 6 peaks; 1 valley.

- Sankanbiaiwa · 1,704 m
- Neremafondi · 1,467 m
- Manga · 1,303 m
- Kerekonko · 1,151 m
- Sura · 1,018 m
- Sendi · 962 m
- Gori · 892 m
- Tano · 841 m
- Jojima · 839 m
- Mankonko · 835 m
- Segbe · 799 m
- Nimini · 789 m
- Kondewa · 767 m
- Konko · 764 m
- Tone · 763 m
- Jawi · 745 m
- Boana · 730 m
- Mamba · 722 m
- Tongole · 700 m
- Tinsi · 670 m
- Tohaw · 662 m
- Kambui North · 652 m
- Dedima · 647 m
- Feyi · 637 m

…and 129 more.

### Forests and nature

4 forest reserves.

- Gola East Forest Reserve
- Gola North Forest Reserve
- Gola West Forest Reserve
- Kambui Hills Forest Reserve

### Getting around

2 airports.

- Kenema Airport
- Yengema Airport

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Eastern Province and the best time to visit

In Eastern Province, the warmest month is Apr (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Aug (24 °C). About 2,002 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (476 mm) and the driest Jan (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to April**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 2 

Feb 26 13 

Mar 27 30 

Apr 27 70 

May 27 127 

Jun 25 283 

Jul 24 391 

Aug 24 476 

Sep 24 368 

Oct 25 179 

Nov 25 55 

Dec 25 8 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Eastern Province

Places mapped inside Eastern Province in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals25
- Banks15
- Petrol pumps10
- Hotels22
- Shopping malls1
- Schools112
- Colleges and universities6
- Cinemas9
- Pharmacies22
- Restaurants50
- Police stations9

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Eastern Province?In Sierra Leone
- What is the population of Eastern Province?1,831,156 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Eastern Province?About 19 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Eastern Province?About 117 people per km²
- What borders Eastern Province?Northern Province and Southern Province
- What is there to see in Eastern Province?Big Tree, Gola Central, Gola North, Gola South
- What time zone is Eastern Province in?UTC+0
- What currency is used in Eastern Province?Leone (SLE)
- What language is spoken in Eastern Province?English, Mende, Timne (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Eastern Province?Kenema
- What is the highest point in Eastern Province?Sankanbiaiwa (1,704 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Eastern Province?November to April
- How many hospitals are in Eastern Province?25 mapped
- How many banks are in Eastern Province?15 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Eastern Province?10 mapped
- What is the P-code of Eastern Province?SL01 (OCHA common operational dataset)