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Nigeria vs Sierra Leone statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has a population of 233M (ranked 6/197), compared with 8.64M in Sierra Leone (ranked 102/197). Nigeria's land area is 351,650 sq mi versus 27,869 sq mi for Sierra Leone (ranked 30th vs. 116th).

By GDP, Nigeria ranks 54/197 ($252B) and Sierra Leone ranks 160/197 ($6.97B). By GDP per capita, Nigeria ranks 174/197 ($1,084), while Sierra Leone ranks 186/197 ($807).

Main facts and rankings

Nigeria Sierra Leone
Population
243824469
9049533
Population rank 6/197 101/197
GDP
$252B
2024
$6.97B
2024
GDP rank 54/197 160/197
GDP per capita
$1,084
2024
$807
2024
GDP per capita rank 174/197 186/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,087
2024
$3,522
2024
Government debt
$99.2B
2024
$2.91B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.3%
2024
41.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$426
2024
$337
2024
Government debt per person rank 170/185 174/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,104
2026
$2,915
2026
Land area 351,650 sq mi 27,869 sq mi
Population density
690 ppl/mi²
2026
323 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.48
2023
3.79
2023
Median age
19 years
2024
20.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
55 years
2026
62.3 years
2026

Nigeria and Sierra Leone: Comparison Charts

Nigeria and Sierra Leone economies compared

GDP
Nigeria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year GDP
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2024 $252,261,880,141 $6,971,127,235
2023 $487,387,801,881 $6,415,852,767
2022 $646,950,257,578 $7,121,125,278
2021 $609,147,716,973 $7,166,931,485
2020 $598,586,817,819 $6,688,307,703
2019 $668,219,992,691 $6,523,577,594
2018 $421,739,251,509 $6,390,514,689
2017 $375,745,731,053 $5,749,846,528
2016 $404,649,125,252 $6,084,297,211
2015 $493,026,682,801 $6,788,352,975
2014 $574,183,763,412 $7,686,138,791
2013 $520,117,180,314 $7,502,762,863
2012 $463,971,018,239 $6,141,666,509
2011 $414,466,676,831 $4,861,632,885
2010 $366,990,417,129 $4,262,805,967
2009 $295,008,835,381 $3,953,403,098
2008 $339,476,276,258 $4,157,895,298
2007 $278,260,846,800 $3,632,957,611
2006 $238,454,997,161 $3,263,697,467
2005 $175,670,569,969 $2,545,275,313
2004 $135,764,731,646 $2,237,350,687
2003 $104,738,954,264 $2,142,618,046
2002 $95,054,059,303 $1,933,863,911
2001 $73,557,840,064 $1,681,473,894
2000 $69,171,451,627 $635,866,404
1999 $59,145,077,039 $669,386,624
1998 $218,416,200,673 $672,368,187
1997 $200,850,397,618 $850,232,760
1996 $185,730,236,700 $941,709,423
1995 $140,919,776,986 $870,740,292
1994 $80,399,613,064 $911,853,802
1993 $56,721,051,402 $768,867,883
1992 $52,058,181,854 $679,940,814
1991 $59,526,833,412 $779,981,987
1990 $54,035,795,388 $649,644,098
1989 $44,003,061,108 $932,974,420
1988 $49,648,470,440 $1,055,083,933
1987 $52,676,041,931 $660,106,336
1986 $54,805,852,581 $490,181,457
1985 $73,745,821,158 $856,890,459
1984 $73,484,359,521 $1,087,471,862
1983 $97,094,911,792 $995,104,305
1982 $142,769,363,314 $1,295,361,886
1981 $164,475,209,516 $1,114,830,472
1980 $64,201,788,123 $1,100,685,845
1979 $47,259,911,894 $1,109,374,911
1978 $36,527,862,209 $960,728,339
1977 $36,035,407,725 $691,777,584
1976 $36,308,883,249 $594,895,942
1975 $27,778,934,625 $679,336,344
1974 $24,846,641,318 $648,590,643
1973 $15,162,871,287 $575,230,724
1972 $12,274,416,018 $465,381,340
1971 $9,181,769,912 $419,549,305
1970 $12,546,094,982 $434,410,974
1969 $6,634,317,346 $408,690,163
1968 $5,200,997,920 $329,859,732
1967 $5,203,237,919 $348,795,303
1966 $6,366,917,453 $375,479,850
1965 $5,874,537,650 $359,379,856
1964 $5,552,931,319 $371,847,461
1963 $5,165,590,254 $348,547,279
1962 $4,909,399,176 $342,721,416
1961 $4,467,287,893 $327,834,191
1960 $4,196,174,502 $322,009,962

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Nigeria and Sierra Leone economies compared

GDP per capita
Nigeria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year GDP per capita
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2024 $1,084 $807
2023 $2,139 $758
2022 $2,899 $860
2021 $2,787 $885
2020 $2,797 $845
2019 $3,190 $844
2018 $2,058 $846
2017 $1,876 $779
2016 $2,070 $844
2015 $2,586 $965
2014 $3,089 $1,118
2013 $2,873 $1,117
2012 $2,633 $938
2011 $2,418 $761
2010 $2,202 $685
2009 $1,820 $653
2008 $2,154 $705
2007 $1,816 $632
2006 $1,600 $580
2005 $1,211 $463
2004 $962 $418
2003 $763 $414
2002 $712 $389
2001 $566 $358
2000 $547 $143.7
1999 $481 $155
1998 $1,822 $156.5
1997 $1,720 $199.9
1996 $1,633 $224.3
1995 $1,272 $208.4
1994 $745 $218.5
1993 $540 $185
1992 $509 $163.2
1991 $597 $183.7
1990 $556 $154.8
1989 $465 $231.3
1988 $540 $268.2
1987 $588 $172.4
1986 $628 $131.5
1985 $869 $235.5
1984 $890 $306
1983 $1,207 $285.8
1982 $1,822 $380
1981 $2,162 $334
1980 $870 $336
1979 $661 $346
1978 $527 $305
1977 $536 $224.2
1976 $556 $196.4
1975 $438 $228.4
1974 $403 $222.1
1973 $252.4 $200.6
1972 $209.5 $165.4
1971 $160.5 $151.8
1970 $224.5 $160.2
1969 $121.4 $153.6
1968 $97.3 $126.3
1967 $99.5 $136.1
1966 $124.4 $149.3
1965 $117.3 $145.6
1964 $113.3 $153.4
1963 $107.7 $146.3
1962 $104.5 $146.3
1961 $97.1 $142.3
1960 $93.1 $142

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Nigeria vs. Sierra Leone life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Nigeria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2026 55 62.3
2025 54.8 62.2
2024 54.6 62
2023 54.5 61.8
2022 54.1 61.3
2021 53.5 60.3
2020 53.1 59.7
2019 53 59.6
2018 52.7 59.1
2017 52.4 57.8
2016 52.2 56.9
2015 51.9 55.5
2014 51.9 54.3
2013 51.8 54.1
2012 51.7 53.2
2011 51.5 52.6
2010 51.3 51.9
2009 51.1 51.3
2008 50.7 50.7
2007 50.4 50
2006 49.9 49.5
2005 49.5 48.3
2004 49.1 47.5
2003 48.6 46.8
2002 48 46.2
2001 47.5 45.4
2000 47.1 44.8
1999 46.6 42
1998 46.1 42.7
1997 46 43.6
1996 45.8 43.5
1995 45.9 42.6
1994 45.7 42.8
1993 45.8 43.4
1992 45.6 43.5
1991 45.5 43.3
1990 45.7 43.7
1989 45.8 43.7
1988 45.8 43.8
1987 45.9 43.7
1986 46 43.5
1985 46.2 43.6
1984 46.3 43.6
1983 46.4 43.5
1982 46.4 43.3
1981 46.3 43.1
1980 46 42.8
1979 45.7 42.5
1978 45.3 42.2
1977 44.8 41.8
1976 44.2 41.4
1975 43.1 41
1974 42.5 40.4
1973 41.8 40
1972 41.3 39.5
1971 40.6 39.1
1970 40 38.6
1969 38.9 38.2
1968 38.6 37.8
1967 37.5 37.3
1966 38.4 36.6
1965 38.2 35.9
1964 38 35.3
1963 37.8 34.7
1962 37.6 34.2
1961 37.4 33.6
1960 37.2 33.1
1959 37 32.6
1958 36.8 32.1
1957 36.6 31.8
1956 36.5 31.3
1955 36.3 30.9
1954 36.2 30.5
1953 36 30.1
1952 35.9 29.7
1951 35.7 29.3
1950 35.5 28.9

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Nigeria and Sierra Leone population clocks and comparison

Population
Nigeria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2024 232,679,478 8,642,022
2023 227,882,945 8,460,512
2022 223,150,896 8,276,807
2021 218,529,286 8,094,602
2020 213,996,181 7,912,558
2019 209,485,641 7,731,991
2018 204,938,755 7,554,563
2017 200,254,579 7,379,299
2016 195,443,700 7,205,328
2015 190,671,878 7,037,655
2014 185,896,915 6,876,385
2013 181,049,443 6,714,051
2012 176,200,625 6,551,080
2011 171,379,598 6,387,251
2010 166,642,886 6,222,714
2009 162,049,464 6,055,646
2008 157,595,014 5,894,722
2007 153,267,261 5,749,352
2006 149,077,334 5,624,466
2005 145,017,253 5,501,712
2004 141,057,045 5,355,717
2003 137,202,644 5,177,687
2002 133,471,989 4,971,435
2001 129,862,595 4,692,716
2000 126,382,494 4,423,611
1999 123,047,320 4,318,043
1998 119,846,254 4,295,785
1997 116,754,792 4,253,716
1996 113,754,779 4,199,210
1995 110,819,428 4,179,179
1994 107,935,714 4,173,105
1993 105,122,069 4,157,130
1992 102,372,770 4,166,366
1991 99,720,162 4,246,267
1990 97,120,925 4,196,828
1989 94,531,014 4,034,037
1988 92,020,090 3,934,517
1987 89,591,716 3,829,718
1986 87,235,953 3,728,380
1985 84,897,973 3,638,438
1984 82,526,443 3,558,758
1983 80,438,260 3,481,646
1982 78,378,701 3,408,183
1981 76,068,103 3,338,940
1980 73,764,641 3,272,089
1979 71,498,242 3,207,499
1978 69,326,532 3,145,517
1977 67,234,590 3,085,354
1976 65,258,009 3,028,820
1975 63,410,815 2,974,657
1974 61,679,144 2,920,459
1973 60,082,139 2,866,955
1972 58,601,748 2,814,388
1971 57,214,684 2,763,222
1970 55,893,838 2,712,286
1969 54,631,914 2,661,365
1968 53,432,783 2,611,532
1967 52,293,065 2,562,384
1966 51,188,234 2,514,638
1965 50,086,764 2,468,666
1964 49,012,016 2,424,390
1963 47,973,575 2,382,258
1962 46,965,292 2,342,242
1961 45,989,310 2,304,227
1960 45,053,782 2,268,356

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Fertility rates in Nigeria and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate
Nigeria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2023 4.48 3.79
2022 4.55 3.88
2021 4.64 3.98
2020 4.7 4.08
2019 4.86 4.19
2018 5.02 4.29
2017 5.18 4.39
2016 5.34 4.47
2015 5.5 4.55
2014 5.62 4.7
2013 5.69 4.87
2012 5.8 5.06
2011 5.89 5.21
2010 5.95 5.33
2009 5.99 5.45
2008 6.02 5.56
2007 6.03 5.64
2006 6.05 5.74
2005 6.06 5.81
2004 6.09 5.92
2003 6.1 6.09
2002 6.12 6.23
2001 6.13 6.31
2000 6.12 6.36
1999 6.08 6.42
1998 6.07 6.5
1997 6.14 6.53
1996 6.22 6.55
1995 6.27 6.56
1994 6.32 6.56
1993 6.35 6.57
1992 6.39 6.56
1991 6.43 6.55
1990 6.46 6.57
1989 6.49 6.57
1988 6.5 6.59
1987 6.5 6.61
1986 6.56 6.6
1985 6.62 6.59
1984 6.7 6.59
1983 6.78 6.57
1982 6.8 6.56
1981 6.82 6.55
1980 6.85 6.56
1979 6.89 6.58
1978 6.92 6.59
1977 6.86 6.57
1976 6.81 6.55
1975 6.77 6.55
1974 6.7 6.53
1973 6.63 6.47
1972 6.58 6.45
1971 6.53 6.43
1970 6.47 6.41
1969 6.44 6.39
1968 6.42 6.39
1967 6.4 6.38
1966 6.39 6.35
1965 6.37 6.31
1964 6.36 6.29
1963 6.35 6.26
1962 6.36 6.22
1961 6.35 6.21
1960 6.36 6.18

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Nigeria and Sierra Leone demographics compared

Median age
Nigeria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year Median age, years
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2024 19 20.5
2023 18.8 20.3
2022 18.7 20
2021 18.5 19.8
2020 18.3 19.6
2019 18.2 19.4
2018 18 19.2
2017 17.9 19.1
2016 17.8 18.9
2015 17.8 18.7
2014 17.7 18.6
2013 17.7 18.5
2012 17.7 18.4
2011 17.7 18.3
2010 17.8 18.2
2009 17.8 18.1
2008 17.8 18.1
2007 17.9 18
2006 17.9 18
2005 17.9 18
2004 17.9 17.9
2003 17.9 17.9
2002 17.9 17.9
2001 17.9 18
2000 17.9 18
1999 17.9 18
1998 17.8 18.1
1997 17.7 18.1
1996 17.6 18.2
1995 17.6 18.2
1994 17.5 18.3
1993 17.4 18.4
1992 17.4 18.4
1991 17.3 18.5
1990 17.3 18.5
1989 17.3 18.6
1988 17.3 18.6
1987 17.3 18.7
1986 17.3 18.7
1985 17.3 18.8
1984 17.4 18.9
1983 17.5 18.9
1982 17.6 19
1981 17.7 19.1
1980 17.8 19.1
1979 17.9 19.2
1978 18 19.3
1977 18.2 19.4
1976 18.3 19.5
1975 18.4 19.6
1974 18.5 19.8
1973 18.6 19.9
1972 18.7 20.1
1971 18.8 20.2
1970 18.9 20.4
1969 19.1 20.6
1968 19.2 20.7
1967 19.2 20.8
1966 19.3 20.9
1965 19.3 20.9
1964 19.3 21
1963 19.3 21
1962 19.3 21.1
1961 19.3 21.1
1960 19.3 21.1

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Nigeria Sierra Leone
GNI, Atlas method
$396B
2024
$7.08B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12.3%
2024
15.6%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
0.32%
2023
2.62%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.56%
2024
0.46%
2024
Armed forces personnel
223,000
2020
9,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.57%
2024
-4.53%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.45%
2024
3.19%
2018
Services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
42.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.2%
2024
25.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.8
2026
49.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2022
29.4%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2022
3.4%
2018
Number of billionaires
4
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.000004%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
169
2024
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$54.4B
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$38.6B
2024
$433M
2024
Personal remittances received
$21.3B
2024
$321M
2024
International tourist arrivals
5,265,000
2016
71,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
0.8%
2020
5.49%
2018
Banked people share
63.3%
2024
38.6%
2024

Energy

Nigeria Sierra Leone
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
333 kg
2022
n/a
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$24.9
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
131.9 megatons
2024
1.46 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.57 tons
2024
0.17 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
55.7%
2022
n/a
Renewable energy use share
80.3%
2021
71.6%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
1.08%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
-66.3%
2022
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
135.6 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
23.8%
2021
75.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
24.3%
2022
70.5%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
61.2%
2023
35.5%
2023

Society

Nigeria Sierra Leone
% of world population
2.86%
2024
0.11%
2024
Annual migration change
-15,258
2025
-11,309
2025
Urban population
63%
2024
45.4%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.6:49.4
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.63 ft
2025
5.46 ft
2025
Average female height
5.19 ft
2025
5.16 ft
2025
Quality of life index
15.2
2026
29.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
26
2025
34
2025
Higher education index
57
2026
20
2026
Homicides per 100K people
21.7
2019
2.14
2020
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
20.7
2019
33
2019
Visa free countries
52
2025
66
2025
Adult literacy rate
70.4%
2024
48.6%
2022
English speaking
60.6%
2023
83.5%
2023
People using the Internet
39.2%
2023
20.6%
2023

Health

Nigeria Sierra Leone
Government health expenditure per capita
$66.8
2023
$35.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$48
2023
$19.5
2023
Life expectancy
55 years
2026
62.3 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
11.3%
2023
28.5%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.38
2023
0.13
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.4 years
2025
19.6 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
993
2023
354
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
104.9
2023
94.3
2023
Obesity rate
12.8%
2022
7.32%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3%
2024
4.8%
2024
Air quality index
8
2026
16
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
3.3%
2022
12.9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.78 liters
2020
0.29 liters
2020

Territory

Nigeria Sierra Leone
% of world land
0.61%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
1,511 sq mi
2024
3,225 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
267,948 sq mi
2026
15,247 sq mi
2026
Forest area
81,611 sq mi
2026
9,559 sq mi
2026
Roads length
121,167 mi
2017
7,270 mi
2015

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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