Post a comment 
The Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Matthew Dingie, has confirmed that Sierra Leone’s life expectancy has increased from 52 to 62 years – a rise of 10 years – which he described as a major national achievement.
He made the announcement on 28 November 2025 during a special press conference hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education at Lacs Villa in Freetown.
Dingie said the improvement in life expectancy reflects the impact of “sustained and strategic investments” by the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners in strengthening the country’s health sector.
He noted that infant and maternal mortality rates have also dropped significantly, further contributing to the overall improvement in national health indicators.
The Financial Secretary made the disclosure while providing additional details of the 2026 National Budget, earlier presented in Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi.
Describing the progress as “huge,” Mr. Dingie emphasized that the government remains committed to expanding and sustaining interventions in the health sector.
He said these efforts are essential to maintaining current gains and ensuring that Sierra Leone builds a “healthy and productive population,” which he noted is a key objective of President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development agenda.
Dingie assured that government support to the health sector will continue, stressing that the improvements recorded so far demonstrate the positive results of the country’s ongoing reforms and investments.
