Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Sierra Leone, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Sierra Leone in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Sierra Leone rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Sierra Leone, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Western, Northern and Eastern. Out of the three regions, Eastern does not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Eastern followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Sierra Leone fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Sierra Leone was the 152nd-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Sierra Leone has become more connected. Sierra Leone ranked 128th in 1975, 143rd in 1976-1990, 142nd in 1991-2005 and 152nd in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Sierra Leone is Freetown, with a population of 1430600 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Freetown as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.04, which is very sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Freetown rose steadily.
Sierra Leone in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Sierra Leone is Kambia with an SNDi of 7.79, which is very sprawly. Conversely, the most connected city is Port Loko with an SNDi of 2.2, which is well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Port Loko, Kambia.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Sierra Leone rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Sierra Leone, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Western, Northern and Eastern. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Sierra Leone follow the same country trend.
To date, Sierra Leone is the 148th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Sierra Leone has become more connected. Sierra Leone ranked 128th in 1975, 136th in 1976-1990, 137th in 1991-2005 and 148th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Sierra Leone is Freetown, with a population of 1430600 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Freetown as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.04, which is very sprawly. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Freetown rose steadily.