# Southern Province, Sierra Leone – Districts, Population & Map > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/ Province · Sierra Leone # Southern Province Southern Province is a province of Sierra Leone. It had an estimated **1,606,984 people** in 2020 on 20,119 km² (about 80 per km²). Its main town is Bo. It is divided into 4 districts. 3,180 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 209 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 1,606,984people (2020) - 20,119km² - 4districts - 209mapped services ## How many people live in Southern Province? Southern Province had an estimated **1,606,984 people** in 2020 — 20.3% of Sierra Leone, the least populous of 4 provinces. There are 950 women for every 1,000 men (below the Sierra Leone figure of 970). Spread over 20,119 km², that is about **80 people per km²**, the least densely populated 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 ****212,693** 5–9 ****251,286** 10–14 ****192,086** 15–19 ****197,960** 20–24 ****150,057** 25–29 ****137,610** 30–34 ****98,281** 35–39 ****95,395** 40–44 ****67,843** 45–49 ****54,978** 50–54 ****42,380** 55–59 ****25,067** 60–64 ****25,526** 65–69 ****16,709** 70–74 ****14,839** 75–79 ****9,003** 80+ ****15,270** 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 Southern Province? Southern Province lies in [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). It borders 4 other provinces: [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/eastern/), [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/north-western/), [Northern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/northern/) and [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/western/). By area it is the 2nd largest of 5 provinces in Sierra Leone. It covers 27.8% of [Sierra Leone](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/). The centre of Southern Province is about 161 km in a straight line from Freetown, the capital. The centre point is at 7.7058° N, 12.0000° 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 Southern Province OpenStreetMap lists 3 named sights in Southern Province: 1 beach; 1 nature reserve; 1 ruins. - Kasewi Hills Forest Reserve · nature reserve - Turtle Islands Expeditions · beach - Matturi Block G · 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: Southern 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 - Lungi International Airport (FNA) · Freetown (Lungi-Town)166 km - Spriggs Payne Airport (MLW) · Monrovia209 km ### Daylight Days are longest in Jun (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:31) and shortest in Dec (about 11.7 hours, sunrise around 06:52, sunset around 18:33). Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight Jan 07:05 18:48 11.7 h Feb 07:05 18:58 11.9 h Mar 06:55 18:59 12.1 h Apr 06:39 18:56 12.3 h May 06:30 18:58 12.5 h Jun 06:31 19:05 12.6 h Jul 06:37 19:09 12.5 h Aug 06:41 19:04 12.4 h Sep 06:38 18:48 12.2 h Oct 06:34 18:32 12.0 h Nov 06:39 18:26 11.8 h Dec 06:52 18:33 11.7 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 Southern Province District People per km² Area km² Chiefdoms Services [Bo District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/bo/) 641,628 117 5,466 16 143 [Pujehun District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/pujehun/) 386,287 92 4,181 12 19 [Moyamba District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/moyamba/) 355,208 51 6,933 14 34 [Bonthe District](https://wherepedia.org/sierra-leone/southern/bonthe/) 223,861 63 3,539 12 13 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 Southern Province - Bo233,684 - Njala40,000 - Bumpe16,123 - Gandorhun12,288 - Gandorhun12,288 - Bonthe10,206 - Mattru Jong8,199 - Pujehun7,926 - Sumbuya7,074 - Baoma7,044 - Moyamba6,700 - Foindu5,868 - Bomi5,463 - Mamboma5,201 - Potoru4,937 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 Southern Province Named natural and historic features inside Southern Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 400 rivers and streams; 14 lakes. - Baaye - Bakaye - Bambatoi - Bampegbali - Bandabeye - Bandaseye - Banga - Batakomboi - Bathleil - Batlot - Batnunk - Batpo - Batsint - Bawa - Bayileye - Bebeh - Bebeye - Begoye - Belegorye - Bende Creek - Beye - Beyei Creek - Beyei Creek - Bogbagara …and 390 more. ### Coast and islands 39 islands; 5 headlands. - Allridge Island - Bainde Island - Baki - Barrettes Island - Batibi Island - Birds Island - Bobs Island - Bom Island - Buoy Point - East Island - Edmonstone Island - Falcon Point - Gilmorris Island - Hoong - Jamaica Point - Kasada Island - Kogba Island - Kogbwema Island - Kopoila Island - Long Island - Macauley Island - Malcolm Island - Masa Island - Mogbo Island …and 20 more. ### Hills and mountains 91 hills; 10 mountains; 3 peaks. - Kang-Ari · 830 m - Gegbeye · 477 m - Bumbe · 459 m - Bandambe Hill · 453 m - Yoyi · 451 m - Kunon · 448 m - Fefeyi · 431 m - Fandey · 410 m - Yomboma · 404 m - Bayiye · 398 m - Yuvini · 395 m - Gegbeye · 394 m - Bagwe · 384 m - Kakboa · 380 m - Kogbotima Hill · 380 m - Ngolo · 377 m - Kanu · 372 m - Bandoye · 364 m - Kateve · 364 m - Venge · 364 m - Bagwe · 361 m - Gpoyiyi · 361 m - Komende · 358 m - Gbonge · 350 m …and 80 more. ### Forests and nature 3 forest reserves. - Bojene Hills Forest Reserve - Lalay Forest Reserve - South Kambui Forest Reserve ### Getting around 3 airports; 1 port; 1 harbour. - Bo Airport - Gbangbatok Airport - Nitti - Owen Tudors Harbor - Sherbro International 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 Southern Province and the best time to visit In Southern Province, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Aug (25 °C). About 2,107 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (477 mm) and the driest Jan (6 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to March**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 26 6 Feb 27 13 Mar 28 28 Apr 28 53 May 27 121 Jun 26 302 Jul 25 447 Aug 25 477 Sep 25 352 Oct 26 208 Nov 26 78 Dec 26 23 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Southern Province Places mapped inside Southern Province in open map data, by type. - Hospitals16 - Banks11 - Petrol pumps10 - Hotels29 - Shopping malls4 - Schools38 - Colleges and universities13 - Cinemas2 - Pharmacies60 - Restaurants20 - Police stations6 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 Southern Province?In Sierra Leone - What is the population of Southern Province?1,606,984 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Southern Province?About 19 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Southern Province?About 80 people per km² - What borders Southern Province?Eastern Province, North Western Province, Northern Province and Western Province - What is there to see in Southern Province?Kasewi Hills Forest Reserve, Matturi Block G, Turtle Islands Expeditions - What time zone is Southern Province in?UTC+0 - What currency is used in Southern Province?Leone (SLE) - What language is spoken in Southern Province?English, Mende, Timne (main languages nationally) - What is the largest town in Southern Province?Bo - What is the highest point in Southern Province?Kang-Ari (830 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Southern Province?November to March - How many hospitals are in Southern Province?16 mapped - How many banks are in Southern Province?11 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Southern Province?10 mapped - What is the P-code of Southern Province?SL03 (OCHA common operational dataset)