# Kenema District, Eastern Province – Chiefdoms & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/ District · Eastern Province # Kenema District Kenema District is a district of Sierra Leone in Eastern Province. It had an estimated **679,994 people** in 2020 on 6,355 km² (about 107 per km²). Its main town is Kenema. It is divided into 17 chiefdoms. 946 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 73 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 679,994people (2020) - 6,355km² - 17chiefdoms - 73mapped services ## How many people live in Kenema District? Kenema District had an estimated **679,994 people** in 2020 — 37.1% of Eastern Province, 3rd of 14 districts. There are 975 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Eastern Province figure of 984). Spread over 6,355 km², that is about **107 people per km²**, 8th 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 ****90,002** 5–9 ****106,332** 10–14 ****81,281** 15–19 ****83,767** 20–24 ****63,499** 25–29 ****58,228** 30–34 ****41,590** 35–39 ****40,363** 40–44 ****28,708** 45–49 ****23,265** 50–54 ****17,932** 55–59 ****10,605** 60–64 ****10,798** 65–69 ****7,070** 70–74 ****6,282** 75–79 ****3,809** 80+ ****6,460** 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 Kenema District? Kenema District lies in [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/), [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). It borders 5 other districts: [Bo District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/bo/), [Kailahun District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kailahun/), [Kono District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kono/), [Pujehun District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/pujehun/) and [Tonkolili District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/). By area it is the 4th largest of 16 districts in Sierra Leone. It covers 40.5% of [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/). The centre of Kenema District is about 233 km in a straight line from Freetown, the capital. The centre point is at 7.9464° N, 11.1914° 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 Kenema District OpenStreetMap lists 4 named sights in Kenema District: 2 nature reserves; 1 attraction; 1 monument. - Gola South · nature reserve - Tiwai Island · nature reserve - 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: Kenema 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) · Monrovia190 km - Roberts International Airport (ROB) · Monrovia211 km ### Daylight Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:27) and shortest in Dec (about 11.7 hours, sunrise around 06:49, sunset around 18:29). 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 Kenema District Chiefdom People per km² Area km² Sections Services [Kenema Town](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/kenema-town/) 223,483 9,897 23 17 60 [Lower Bambara](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/lower-bambara/) 85,049 124 687 7 2 [Nongowa](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/nongowa/) 50,799 81 624 8 5 [Gorama Mende](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/gorama-mende/) 48,343 73 658 4 1 [Tunkia](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/tunkia/) 40,198 54 743 7 1 [Dama](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/dama/) 34,286 85 402 7 0 [Small Bo](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/small-bo/) 32,889 77 428 5 0 [Dodo](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/dodo/) 25,485 79 324 7 0 [Malegohun](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/malegohun/) 22,905 96 240 7 2 [Wandor](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/wandor/) 22,662 71 319 6 0 [Kandu Leppiama](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/kandu-leppiama/) 20,324 90 226 4 0 [Gaura](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/gaura/) 20,311 51 398 6 1 [Simbaru](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/simbaru/) 19,397 72 270 4 0 [Koya](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/koya/) 15,032 42 360 5 0 [Niawa](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/niawa/) 8,713 35 248 5 0 [Nomo](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/nomo/) 6,122 17 352 3 1 [Langrama](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/langrama/) 3,996 74 54 2 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 Kenema District - Kenema255,110 - Blama8,146 - Panguma7,965 - Barma7,529 - Boajibu7,384 - Hangha5,007 - Gorahun4,089 - Wima3,691 - Giehun3,350 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 Kenema District Named natural and historic features inside Kenema District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 182 rivers and streams. - Bangaye - Bangba - Beeya - Bejo - Bewuye - Bobenja - Bofioye - Bokoye - Bonde - Buabe - Bundoye - Bunge - Buye - Dambayei - Dopoyeh - Faiya - Faiya - Falima - Famboya - Fereye - Fonaye - Forun - Gauyei - Gba …and 158 more. ### Coast and islands 1 island. - Tiwai Island ### Hills and mountains 31 hills; 11 mountains. - Kambui North · 652 m - Dedima · 647 m - Tavuwa · 618 m - Balkuli · 561 m - Toki · 560 m - Kagoye · 521 m - Joki · 497 m - Jajayei · 489 m - Vania · 488 m - Langama · 486 m - Gawuye · 482 m - Poluma · 482 m - Kambui South · 469 m - Kuewiye · 465 m - Toka · 459 m - Lomei · 436 m - Kinbaig · 423 m - Tupambe · 407 m - Lunga · 405 m - Golia · 382 m - Fefewai · 369 m - Tuha Hill · 352 m - Goiji · 348 m - Kueje · 332 m …and 18 more. ### Forests and nature 3 forest reserves. - Gola East Forest Reserve - Gola West Forest Reserve - Kambui Hills Forest Reserve ### Getting around 1 airport. - Kenema 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 Kenema District and the best time to visit In Kenema District, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Aug (24 °C). About 1,933 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (457 mm) and the driest Jan (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to February and May**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 26 1 Feb 28 7 Mar 29 16 Apr 29 45 May 27 116 Jun 26 298 Jul 24 401 Aug 24 457 Sep 25 355 Oct 25 177 Nov 26 52 Dec 25 7 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Kenema District Places mapped inside Kenema District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals10 - Banks7 - Petrol pumps6 - Hotels10 - Shopping malls1 - Schools24 - Colleges and universities4 - Cinemas1 - Pharmacies2 - Restaurants7 - Police stations1 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 Kenema District?In Eastern Province, Sierra Leone - What is the population of Kenema District?679,994 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Kenema District?About 19 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Kenema District?About 107 people per km² - What borders Kenema District?Bo District, Kailahun District, Kono District, Pujehun District and Tonkolili District - What is there to see in Kenema District?Big Tree, Gola South, Tiwai Island, Tiwai Island - What time zone is Kenema District in?UTC+0 - What currency is used in Kenema District?Leone (SLE) - What language is spoken in Kenema District?English, Mende, Timne (main languages nationally) - What is the largest town in Kenema District?Kenema - What is the highest point in Kenema District?Kambui North (652 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Kenema District?November to February and May - How many hospitals are in Kenema District?10 mapped - How many banks are in Kenema District?7 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Kenema District?6 mapped - What is the P-code of Kenema District?SL0102 (OCHA common operational dataset)