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Sierra Leone

Parliament

Political system

Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.

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Presidential system

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Structure of parliament

Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral

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Unicameral

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IPU membership

Current membership status

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Yes

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About parliament

Basic information such as the official name of parliament and details of its structure and leadership. Also includes the current breakdown of MPs by sex and age, and provisions for quotas and reserved seats.

Parliament name
Parliament
Chamber name
Parliament

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Structure & status of parliament

This field is to indicate lower/upper in the back end.

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Lower chamber
Parliamentary term (years)

Length of the parliamentary term in years

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5

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IPU membership

Affiliation periods
from 1963 to 1966
from 1969 to 1981
from 2008
IPU Geopolitical Group/s

IPU Geopolitical Groups: African Group, Arab Group, Asia-Pacific Group, Eurasia Group, Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), Twelve Plus Group.

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African Group

Speaker

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Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
Segepoh Solomon Thomas (Male)
Date of birth: 14 May 1976
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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02 May 2024
Additional information

Elected on 2 May 2024.

Speaker terms

No information available

Secretary general

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Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Clerk
Secretary General
Karmoh Kondemeh Conteh (Male)
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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01 Sep 2025
Notes

Additional information about the Secretary General, in particular regarding their term.

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Appointed on 1 Sep. 2025.

Members

Statutory number of members

Statutory number of members, as defined in the constitution or other fundamental law.

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149

Notes: Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.

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Principal mode of designation of members
Directly elected

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Directly elected members

Directly elected by citizens.

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135
Indirectly elected members

Indirectly elected, for example by regional parliaments or an electoral college.

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14
Current number of members

Number of members who currently hold seats in parliament. May be lower or higher than the statutory number of members.

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149

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Men

The number of male parliamentarians who currently hold seats in parliament.

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107

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Women

The number of female parliamentarians who currently hold seats in parliament.

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42

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Percentage of women

Calculated by dividing the current number of women by the current number of members.

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28.2%

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Statutory number of members per country

As defined in the constitution or other fundamental laws. Combines the number of parliamentarians in both chambers in bicameral parliaments.

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149

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Population (in thousands)

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects.

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8,460

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Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Calculated by dividing the population by the statutory number of parliamentarians.

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57,945

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Age

Data on the age of parliamentarians is collected at the start of the legislature, following the most recent elections. This data is not updated during the legislature, except when parliament notifies the IPU of a change in the youngest or oldest member.

Average age of all members

Average age of members, for which data is available, at the time of the last election or renewal.

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47.6
(2023-07)

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Youngest member
Alice Kornya Sandy (Female)

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Youngest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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26

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Oldest member
Emilia Loloh Tongi (Female)

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Oldest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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69

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Number of members, by age (2023-07)

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Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 1 26 23 30 21 4 0 0 0 105
Female 0 2 4 13 5 10 10 0 0 0 44
Totals per age interval 0 3 30 36 35 31 14 0 0 0 149
Total <= 45: 69 Total >= 46: 80
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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2.0% 0.7% 1.3%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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22.1% 18% 4.0%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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46.3% 34% 12.8%
Members for whom data is available

Number of members, at the start of the legislature, for whom age data is available

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149
(2023-07)

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Reserved seats and quotas

There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups

Reserved seats are a means to ensure the parliamentary representation of certain groups in society.

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Yes

Notes: Constitution for Paramount Chiefs

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Other groups
14

Notes: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are indirectly elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.

Electoral quota for women

Quotas to promote gender-balanced representation in parliament

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Yes

Notes:

- The Gender Empowerment Act 2021 stipulates that: 30% of constituency seats in each district are to be reserved exclusively for female candidates contesting parliamentary election; and that the Electoral Commission is to reject a party's list of candidates if it fails to comply with the 30% women’s quota.

- The Public Elections Act 2022 also stipulates that, for every three candidates nominated for parliamentary elections, one of them is to be female.

- Additionally, the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022 stipulates that 30% of public and private jobs must be reserved for women.

Sources:

- The Gender Empowerment Act 2021, Part II – Reserved Seats and Appointment to Public Office, articles 2 (1) (a) and 2 (3), published in the Supplement to the Sierra Leone Extraordinary Gazette Vol. CXLXII, No. 45, dated 16 August 2021

- The Public Elections Act 2022, Part VI – Election of Members of Parliament, article 58 (2), published in the Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Extraordinary Vol. CXLXIII, No. 67, dated 20 September 2022

- The Gender Equality and Empowerment Act 2022, Part II – Public Elections and Appointment to Public Office, article 3, published in the Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Extraordinary Vol. CXLXIII, No. 91, dated 30 December 2022

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Youth quota

Quotas to promote the representation of youth in parliament.

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No

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Links to additional information

Parliamentary website

Link(s) to parliamentary web site in English, French and/or local languages.

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List of members

Link(s) to list of members on the parliamentary web site.

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Rules of procedure/Standing Orders

Link(s) to Rules of procedure on the parliamentary web site in English, French and/or local language.

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Constitution

Official links to the Constitution in English, French and/or original language is provided. Links to unofficial translations where no other source is available.

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Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Updated at IPU membership
2008-01 Yes
1982-01 No
1969-01 Yes
1967-01 No
1963-01 Yes

Historical data for Chamber name

Historical data for Chamber name
Updated at Chamber name
1973-01 Parliament
- Parliament
Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
Segepoh Solomon Thomas (Male)
Date of birth: 14 May 1976
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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02 May 2024
Additional information

Elected on 2 May 2024.

Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
No information available
The post of Speaker is currently vacant
Yes
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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01 May 2024
Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
Abass Chernor Bundu (Male)
Date of birth: 03 Jun 1948
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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25 Apr 2018 to 30 Apr 2024
Additional information

Elected on 25 Apr. 2018, re-elected on 13 July 2023.

Historical data for Speaker

Historical data for Speaker
Updated at Speaker
2024-05
Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
Segepoh Solomon Thomas (Male)
Date of birth: 14 May 1976
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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02 May 2024
Additional information

Elected on 2 May 2024.

2024-05
Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
No information available
The post of Speaker is currently vacant
Yes
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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01 May 2024
2018-04
Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of Parliament
Speaker
Abass Chernor Bundu (Male)
Date of birth: 03 Jun 1948
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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25 Apr 2018 to 30 Apr 2024
Additional information

Elected on 25 Apr. 2018, re-elected on 13 July 2023.

Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Clerk
Secretary General
Karmoh Kondemeh Conteh (Male)
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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01 Sep 2025
Notes

Additional information about the Secretary General, in particular regarding their term.

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Appointed on 1 Sep. 2025.

Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Acting Clerk
Secretary General
Gilbert Bosco Nhabay (Male)
Acting Secretary General

If the position of Secretary General becomes vacant, the Deputy Secretary General or another person becomes the Acting Secretary General until a new Secretary General is officially elected or appointed.

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Yes
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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28 May 2024 to 31 Aug 2025
Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Clerk
Secretary General
Umar Paran Tarawally (Male)
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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01 Apr 2018 to 27 May 2024

Historical data for Secretary general

Historical data for Secretary general
Updated at Secretary general
2025-09
Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Clerk
Secretary General
Karmoh Kondemeh Conteh (Male)
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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01 Sep 2025
Notes

Additional information about the Secretary General, in particular regarding their term.

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Appointed on 1 Sep. 2025.

2024-05
Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Acting Clerk
Secretary General
Gilbert Bosco Nhabay (Male)
Acting Secretary General

If the position of Secretary General becomes vacant, the Deputy Secretary General or another person becomes the Acting Secretary General until a new Secretary General is officially elected or appointed.

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Yes
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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28 May 2024 to 31 Aug 2025
2018-04
Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Clerk
Secretary General
Umar Paran Tarawally (Male)
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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01 Apr 2018 to 27 May 2024

Historical data for Statutory number of members

Historical data for Statutory number of members
Updated at Statutory number of members Notes
2023-06 149 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2019-01 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2018-05 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2018-04 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2018-03 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2015-01 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2014-12 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2008-01 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2007-09 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.
2005-01 146 Indirectly elected members: Fourteen Paramount Chiefs are elected to represent the 14 provincial districts.

Historical data for Current number of members

Historical data for Current number of members
Updated at Current number of members
2025-12 149
2023-06 149
2018-06 146
2018-05 144
2018-04 146
2018-03 144
2014-12 121
2014-01 124
2012-11 121
2011-01 124
2010-01 121
2007-09 124
2007-08 112
2002-05 124
1996-01 80
1982-01 104
1977-01 100
1973-01 97

Historical data for Men

Historical data for Men
Updated at Men
2025-12 107
2023-12 105
2023-06 107
2022-12 127
2018-06 128

Historical data for Women

Historical data for Women
Updated at Women
2025-12 42
2023-12 44
2023-06 42
2022-12 19
2018-06 18
2018-05 No information available
2018-04 18
2018-03 No information available
2012-11 15
2007-08 16
2002-05 18
1996-01 5
1982-01 1
1977-01 0
1973-01 1

Historical data for Percentage of women

Historical data for Percentage of women
Updated at Percentage of women
2025-12 28.2%
2023-12 29.5%
2023-06 28.2%
2022-12 13.0%
2018-06 12.3%
2018-05 No information available
2018-04 12.3%
2018-03 No information available
2014-12 12.4%
2014-01 12.1%
2012-11 12.4%
2011-01 12.9%
2010-01 13.2%
2007-09 12.9%
2007-08 14.3%
2002-05 14.5%
1996-01 6.3%
1982-01 1.0%
1977-01 0.0%
1973-01 1.0%

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country
Updated at Statutory number of members per country
2023-06 149
2019-01 146
2018-05 146
2018-04 146
2018-03 146
2015-01 146
2014-12 146
2008-01 146
2007-09 146
2005-01 146

Historical data for Population (in thousands)

Historical data for Population (in thousands)
Updated at Population (in thousands)
2023-01 8,460
2022-01 8,276
2021-01 8,094
2015-01 7,237
2014-01 7,079
2013-01 6,922
2012-01 6,766
2011-01 6,612
2010-01 6,459
2009-01 6,310
2008-01 6,165
2007-01 6,015
2006-01 5,849
2005-01 5,658
2004-01 5,440
2003-01 5,200
2002-01 4,957
2001-01 4,739
2000-01 4,564
1999-01 4,438
1998-01 4,354
1997-01 4,305
1996-01 4,282
1995-01 4,275
1994-01 4,284
1993-01 4,307
1992-01 4,331
1991-01 4,337
1990-01 4,312
1989-01 4,249
1988-01 4,153
1987-01 4,035
1986-01 3,912
1985-01 3,800
1984-01 3,699
1983-01 3,609
1982-01 3,525
1981-01 3,445
1980-01 3,365
1979-01 3,286
1978-01 3,209
1977-01 3,135
1976-01 3,063
1975-01 2,994
1974-01 2,927
1973-01 2,864
1972-01 2,803
1971-01 2,746
1970-01 2,692
1969-01 2,643
1968-01 2,597
1967-01 2,554
1966-01 2,513
1965-01 2,473
1964-01 2,435
1963-01 2,398
1962-01 2,363
1961-01 2,329
1960-01 2,297
1959-01 2,267
1958-01 2,238
1957-01 2,210
1956-01 2,184
1955-01 2,158
1954-01 2,133
1953-01 2,108
1952-01 2,085
1951-01 2,062
1945-01 2,041

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian
Updated at Inhabitants per parliamentarian
2023-06 57,945
2023-01 57,945
2022-01 56,685
2021-01 55,438
2019-01 49,568
2018-05 49,568
2018-04 49,568
2018-03 49,568
2015-01 49,568
2014-12 48,486
2014-01 48,486
2013-01 47,411
2012-01 46,342
2011-01 45,288
2010-01 44,240
2009-01 43,219
2008-01 42,226
2007-09 41,199
2007-01 41,199
2006-01 40,062
2005-01 38,753

Historical data for Average age of all members

Historical data for Average age of all members
Updated at Average age of all members
2023-07 47.6
2018-04 47.0

Historical data for Members for whom data is available

Historical data for Members for whom data is available
Updated at Members for whom data is available
2023-07 149
2018-04 125

Historical data for Members for whom age data is not available

Historical data for Members for whom age data is not available
Updated at Members for whom age data is not available
2023-07 0
2018-04 22
Youngest member
Alice Kornya Sandy (Female)
Youngest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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26
Youngest member
Mohamed Billoh Shaw (Male)
Youngest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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28

Historical data for Youngest member

Historical data for Youngest member
Updated at Youngest member
2023-07
Youngest member
Alice Kornya Sandy (Female)
Youngest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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26
2018-04
Youngest member
Mohamed Billoh Shaw (Male)
Youngest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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28
Oldest member
Emilia Loloh Tongi (Female)
Oldest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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69
Oldest member
Matilda Yayu Lansana Minah IV (Female)
Oldest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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83

Historical data for Oldest member

Historical data for Oldest member
Updated at Oldest member
2023-07
Oldest member
Emilia Loloh Tongi (Female)
Oldest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

View field in the data dictionary
69
2018-04
Oldest member
Matilda Yayu Lansana Minah IV (Female)
Oldest member (years)

Age is calculated at the time the member was elected/appointed to a new legislature. Data is not updated during the legislature unless the member is no longer a member.

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83
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 1 26 23 30 21 4 0 0 0 105
Female 0 2 4 13 5 10 10 0 0 0 44
Totals per age interval 0 3 30 36 35 31 14 0 0 0 149
Total <= 45: 69 Total >= 46: 80
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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2.0% 0.7% 1.3%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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22.1% 18% 4.0%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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46.3% 34% 12.8%
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 3 32 27 17 22 7 2 0 0 110
Female 0 0 3 6 0 4 1 0 1 0 15
Totals per age interval 0 3 35 33 17 26 8 2 1 0 125
Total <= 45: 71 Total >= 46: 54
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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2.4% 2.4% 0.0%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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30.4% 28% 2.4%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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56.8% 50% 7.2%

Historical data for Breakdown of members by age and sex

Historical data for Breakdown of members by age and sex
Updated at Breakdown of members by age and sex
2023-07
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 1 26 23 30 21 4 0 0 0 105
Female 0 2 4 13 5 10 10 0 0 0 44
Totals per age interval 0 3 30 36 35 31 14 0 0 0 149
Total <= 45: 69 Total >= 46: 80
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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2.0% 0.7% 1.3%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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22.1% 18% 4.0%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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46.3% 34% 12.8%
2018-04
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 3 32 27 17 22 7 2 0 0 110
Female 0 0 3 6 0 4 1 0 1 0 15
Totals per age interval 0 3 35 33 17 26 8 2 1 0 125
Total <= 45: 71 Total >= 46: 54
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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2.4% 2.4% 0.0%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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30.4% 28% 2.4%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

Compare data of this field

56.8% 50% 7.2%

Historical data for Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

Historical data for Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger
Updated at Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger
2023-07 2.0%
2018-04 2.4%