# Kailahun District, Eastern Province – Chiefdoms & Population

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

District · Eastern Province 

# Kailahun District

Kailahun District is a district of Sierra Leone in Eastern Province. It had an estimated **586,886 people** in 2020 on 3,938 km² (about 149 per km²). It is divided into 14 chiefdoms. 973 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 167 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 586,886people (2020)
- 3,938km²
- 14chiefdoms
- 167mapped services

## How many people live in Kailahun District?

Kailahun District had an estimated **586,886 people** in 2020 — 32.1% of Eastern Province, 6th of 14 districts. There are 980 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Eastern Province figure of 984). Spread over 3,938 km², that is about **149 people per km²**, 3rd of 14 districts.

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 Eastern Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 80 children and older people.

0–4 ****77,676**

5–9 ****91,773**

10–14 ****70,150**

15–19 ****72,293**

20–24 ****54,804**

25–29 ****50,259**

30–34 ****35,894**

35–39 ****34,837**

40–44 ****24,776**

45–49 ****20,079**

50–54 ****15,476**

55–59 ****9,153**

60–64 ****9,319**

65–69 ****6,099**

70–74 ****5,424**

75–79 ****3,288**

80+ ****5,578**

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 Kailahun District?

Kailahun District lies in [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/), [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). It borders 2 other districts: [Kenema District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/) and [Kono District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kono/). By area it is the 12th largest of 16 districts in Sierra Leone. It covers 25.1% of [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/). The centre of Kailahun District is about 276 km in a straight line from Freetown, the capital. It is about 51 km from Kenema, the main town of Eastern Province. The centre point is at 8.0593° N, 10.7652° 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 Kailahun District

OpenStreetMap lists 2 named sights in Kailahun District: 2 nature reserves.

- Gola Central · nature reserve
- Gola North · nature reserve

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: Kailahun District

- 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) · Monrovia197 km
- Roberts International Airport (ROB) · Monrovia208 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:25) and shortest in Dec (about 11.7 hours, sunrise around 06:48, sunset around 18:27).

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.

## Chiefdoms of Kailahun District

Chiefdom People per km² Area km² Sections Services 

[Luawa](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/luawa/) 90,360 129 702 10 74 

[Njaluahun](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/njaluahun/) 68,253 209 327 12 1 

[Jawie](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/jawie/) 56,808 159 358 8 0 

[Kissi Tongi](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/kissi-tongi/) 56,807 219 260 4 22 

[Kissi Teng](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/kissi-teng/) 50,339 307 164 5 20 

[Malema](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/malema/) 41,359 58 709 5 6 

[Mandu](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/mandu/) 34,546 169 205 4 7 

[Yawei](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/yawei/) 32,692 167 196 4 1 

[Kpeje West](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/kpeje-west/) 30,710 196 156 4 0 

[Upper Bambara](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/upper-bambara/) 29,934 133 225 6 15 

[Penguia](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/penguia/) 29,292 137 215 5 9 

[Kpeje Bongre](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/kpeje-bongre/) 28,062 156 180 7 8 

[Kissi Kama](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/kissi-kama/) 22,768 222 102 3 4 

[Dea](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/dea/) 14,956 106 141 4 0 

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 Kailahun District

- Segbwema16,532
- Kailahun14,085
- Pendembu8,780
- Bunumbu7,355
- Tombodu5,985
- Daru5,958
- Buedu5,412
- Manowa4,214
- Mobai3,441
- Jojoima3,136

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 Kailahun District

Named natural and historic features inside Kailahun District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

143 rivers and streams.

- Bando
- Bangu
- Baye
- Blawo
- Bo
- Bobua
- Boya
- Boya
- Brendu
- Bunja
- Dugbola
- Faiya
- Fofoya
- Fonaya
- Gaya
- Gbaiya
- Gbeteye
- Gbuya
- Gendeya
- Gokoye
- Gondi
- Goya
- Goyui
- Guma

…and 119 more.

### Hills and mountains

33 mountains; 28 hills; 1 peak; 1 valley.

- Jojima · 839 m
- Jawi · 745 m
- Mamba · 722 m
- Lefenkisi · 628 m
- Gopi · 612 m
- Tongbo · 604 m
- Loangi Makka · 602 m
- Bossa Hill · 568 m
- Bende · 557 m
- Poni-Poni · 538 m
- Fasi Hill · 530 m
- Komaja Hill · 512 m
- Wali · 494 m
- Betenjama · 493 m
- Bembeye · 491 m
- Kwiva · 490 m
- Seengga · 487 m
- Nglavasa · 477 m
- Bori Hill · 472 m
- Songa · 460 m
- Kotuyei · 447 m
- Sangie · 428 m
- Pawaja · 421 m
- Togbini · 413 m

…and 39 more.

### Forests and nature

1 forest reserve.

- Gola North Forest Reserve

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 Kailahun District and the best time to visit

In Kailahun District, 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 Kailahun District

Places mapped inside Kailahun District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals11
- Banks5
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels5
- Schools72
- Cinemas8
- Pharmacies20
- Restaurants39
- Police stations4

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 Kailahun District?In Eastern Province, Sierra Leone
- What is the population of Kailahun District?586,886 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Kailahun District?About 19 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Kailahun District?About 149 people per km²
- What borders Kailahun District?Kenema District and Kono District
- What is there to see in Kailahun District?Gola Central, Gola North
- What time zone is Kailahun District in?UTC+0
- What currency is used in Kailahun District?Leone (SLE)
- What language is spoken in Kailahun District?English, Mende, Timne (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Kailahun District?Segbwema
- What is the highest point in Kailahun District?Jojima (839 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Kailahun District?November to April
- How many hospitals are in Kailahun District?11 mapped
- How many banks are in Kailahun District?5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Kailahun District?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Kailahun District?SL0101 (OCHA common operational dataset)