# Tonkolili District, Northern Province – Chiefdoms & Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/

District · Northern Province 

# Tonkolili District

Tonkolili District is a district of Sierra Leone in Northern Province. It had an estimated **592,523 people** in 2020 on 6,433 km² (about 92 per km²). It is divided into 11 chiefdoms. 1,159 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 95 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 592,523people (2020)
- 6,433km²
- 11chiefdoms
- 95mapped services

## How many people live in Tonkolili District?

Tonkolili District had an estimated **592,523 people** in 2020 — 21.2% of Northern Province, 5th of 14 districts. There are 981 women for every 1,000 men (above the Northern Province figure of 954). Spread over 6,433 km², that is about **92 people per km²**, 11th 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 Northern Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 80 children and older people.

0–4 ****78,422**

5–9 ****92,655**

10–14 ****70,826**

15–19 ****72,989**

20–24 ****55,328**

25–29 ****50,741**

30–34 ****36,241**

35–39 ****35,172**

40–44 ****25,017**

45–49 ****20,272**

50–54 ****15,625**

55–59 ****9,241**

60–64 ****9,412**

65–69 ****6,160**

70–74 ****5,472**

75–79 ****3,319**

80+ ****5,629**

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 Tonkolili District?

Tonkolili District lies in [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/), [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). It borders 7 other districts: [Bo District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/bo/), [Bombali District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/bombali/), [Kenema District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kenema/), [Koinadugu District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/koinadugu/), [Kono District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/kono/), [Moyamba District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/moyamba/) and [Port Loko District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/north-western/port-loko/). By area it is the 3rd largest of 16 districts in Sierra Leone. It covers 28.2% of [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/). The centre of Tonkolili District is about 177 km in a straight line from Freetown, the capital. It is about 46 km from Makeni, the main town of Northern Province. The centre point is at 8.7624° N, 11.6464° 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 Tonkolili District

OpenStreetMap lists 4 named sights in Tonkolili District: 2 ruins; 1 beach; 1 memorial.

- BWMA Katene Docking Point · beach
- Kawungulu Abandoned Village Site · ruins
- Peace · memorial
- Physio House · ruins

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: Tonkolili 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

- Lungi International Airport (FNA) · Freetown (Lungi-Town)171 km
- Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport (CKY) · Conakry234 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:27) and shortest in Dec (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 06:53, sunset around 18:30).

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 Tonkolili District

Chiefdom People per km² Area km² Sections Services 

[Yoni](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/yoni/) 125,444 103 1,222 13 76 

[Kunike](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kunike/) 82,969 104 799 8 0 

[Gbonkolenken](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/gbonkolenken/) 75,488 103 734 10 0 

[Kholifa Rowala](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kholifa-rowala/) 73,729 164 451 7 12 

[Kafe Simiria](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kafe-simiria/) 40,885 71 575 7 0 

[Kalansogoia](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kalansogoia/) 39,986 89 450 7 4 

[Tane](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/tane/) 37,111 83 446 6 3 

[Sambaya](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/sambaya/) 35,671 52 689 4 0 

[Malal Mara](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/malal-mara/) 34,511 102 338 8 0 

[Kunike Barina](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kunike-barina/) 28,147 68 415 6 0 

[Kholifa Mabang](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/tonkolili/kholifa-mabang/) 18,582 59 315 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 Tonkolili District

- Mile 9115,491
- Magburaka14,915
- Rokupr12,744
- Yonibana3,589
- Makali3,550
- Bumbuna3,222
- Masaka3,219

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 Tonkolili District

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

### Water

195 rivers and streams; 2 dams; 1 waterfall.

- Akinoma
- Baima
- Balu
- Bankani
- Bantani
- Bari
- Basia
- Batabana
- Batbant
- Batbui
- Batiloma
- Batimora
- Batleni
- Batpoka
- Batsamp
- Batsint
- Bekuli
- Betmai Falls
- Bolon
- Bondomai
- Bonki
- Bukabai
- Bukobai
- Buluwa

…and 174 more.

### Hills and mountains

38 hills; 28 mountains; 1 peak.

- Tankabu · 963 m
- Bumbureko · 869 m
- Simbili · 853 m
- Sakasakala · 846 m
- Tuntunfara · 743 m
- Bamabala · 733 m
- Sundu · 687 m
- Bidali · 685 m
- Marangbe · 672 m
- Bugubu · 669 m
- Turuma · 666 m
- Masamank · 638 m
- Kirifi · 637 m
- Mara · 627 m
- Sundulumusa · 619 m
- Sokoya · 597 m
- Wa · 582 m
- Kalla · 571 m
- Kunsulma · 569 m
- Fona · 567 m
- Kulu · 567 m
- Komboyan · 565 m
- Kuni · 561 m
- Lukinki · 549 m

…and 43 more.

### Forests and nature

1 forest reserve.

- Kangari Hills 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 Tonkolili District and the best time to visit

In Tonkolili District, the warmest month is Apr (average 30 °C) and the coolest is Aug (24 °C). About 2,066 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (570 mm) and the driest Jan (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to February**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 1 

Feb 28 4 

Mar 29 9 

Apr 30 28 

May 28 108 

Jun 26 310 

Jul 25 478 

Aug 24 570 

Sep 25 346 

Oct 26 161 

Nov 26 47 

Dec 25 3 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Tonkolili District

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

- Hospitals13
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels4
- Schools48
- Colleges and universities9
- Pharmacies13
- Restaurants5

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 Tonkolili District?In Northern Province, Sierra Leone
- What is the population of Tonkolili District?592,523 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Tonkolili District?About 19 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Tonkolili District?About 92 people per km²
- What borders Tonkolili District?Bo District, Bombali District, Kenema District, Koinadugu District, Kono District, Moyamba District and Port Loko District
- What is there to see in Tonkolili District?BWMA Katene Docking Point, Kawungulu Abandoned Village Site, Peace, Physio House
- What time zone is Tonkolili District in?UTC+0
- What currency is used in Tonkolili District?Leone (SLE)
- What language is spoken in Tonkolili District?English, Mende, Timne (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Tonkolili District?Mile 91
- What is the highest point in Tonkolili District?Tankabu (963 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Tonkolili District?November to February
- How many hospitals are in Tonkolili District?13 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Tonkolili District?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Tonkolili District?SL0205 (OCHA common operational dataset)