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Population in Burundi compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burundi was 14,047,786 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burundi's population is 14,833,763 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Burundi's population is 1.64 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Burundi is ranked the 78th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.18% for Burundi vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Burundi has had an average growth rate of +2.74% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burundi has increased from 7.87M people to 14.8M (88.6% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Burundi vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burundi Sierra Leone
2100 38,293,853 16,111,324
2099 38,174,358 16,126,181
2098 38,032,126 16,139,280
2097 37,893,681 16,154,153
2096 37,756,449 16,164,923
2095 37,614,540 16,173,557
2094 37,436,871 16,173,155
2093 37,274,132 16,177,864
2092 37,108,508 16,175,032
2091 36,942,857 16,168,153
2090 36,771,082 16,158,415
2089 36,563,987 16,146,773
2088 36,355,008 16,133,018
2087 36,164,606 16,116,823
2086 35,954,669 16,089,780
2085 35,713,632 16,068,438
2084 35,484,958 16,044,782
2083 35,263,538 16,011,134
2082 35,009,446 15,975,073
2081 34,736,107 15,935,071
2080 34,490,976 15,896,846
2079 34,213,139 15,854,898
2078 33,926,177 15,805,607
2077 33,614,120 15,754,551
2076 33,328,275 15,699,439
2075 33,008,877 15,639,458
2074 32,701,037 15,584,377
2073 32,376,989 15,516,736
2072 32,052,692 15,446,543
2071 31,745,266 15,374,790
2070 31,397,738 15,297,449
2069 31,057,284 15,216,666
2068 30,714,517 15,128,048
2067 30,354,696 15,032,144
2066 30,003,347 14,935,222
2065 29,629,671 14,837,697
2064 29,285,762 14,740,749
2063 28,949,355 14,642,031
2062 28,601,048 14,529,557
2061 28,250,749 14,423,861
2060 27,902,252 14,311,215
2059 27,548,599 14,198,706
2058 27,202,405 14,080,827
2057 26,854,783 13,960,869
2056 26,488,466 13,836,132
2055 26,128,941 13,706,113
2054 25,749,289 13,579,802
2053 25,370,938 13,444,465
2052 24,991,164 13,303,409
2051 24,616,398 13,156,370
2050 24,248,417 13,010,109
2049 23,841,324 12,867,021
2048 23,457,774 12,716,015
2047 23,054,780 12,570,250
2046 22,680,495 12,414,307
2045 22,268,462 12,257,874
2044 21,845,832 12,092,075
2043 21,428,437 11,931,531
2042 20,996,812 11,770,467
2041 20,590,106 11,602,993
2040 20,174,211 11,431,337
2039 19,754,227 11,262,807
2038 19,337,942 11,100,099
2037 18,919,404 10,931,629
2036 18,507,313 10,760,758
2035 18,115,077 10,585,702
2034 17,727,651 10,413,826
2033 17,339,180 10,241,196
2032 16,953,330 10,062,575
2031 16,569,289 9,883,708
2030 16,198,007 9,708,038
2029 15,827,843 9,532,000
2028 15,445,059 9,360,873
2027 15,084,625 9,179,702
2026 14,740,747 9,001,269
2025 14,397,864 8,822,114
2024 14,047,786 8,642,022
2023 13,689,450 8,460,512
2022 13,321,097 8,276,807
2021 12,965,481 8,094,602
2020 12,617,036 7,912,558
2019 12,255,336 7,731,991
2018 11,859,446 7,554,563
2017 11,506,762 7,379,299
2016 11,239,451 7,205,328
2015 11,047,580 7,037,655
2014 10,799,785 6,876,385
2013 10,439,341 6,714,051
2012 10,071,028 6,551,080
2011 9,717,978 6,387,251
2010 9,376,444 6,222,714
2009 8,947,646 6,055,646
2008 8,505,637 5,894,722
2007 8,161,874 5,749,352
2006 7,865,547 5,624,466
2005 7,587,299 5,501,712
2004 7,310,656 5,355,717
2003 7,043,154 5,177,687
2002 6,824,132 4,971,435
2001 6,634,365 4,692,716
2000 6,470,194 4,423,611
1999 6,337,155 4,318,043
1998 6,187,108 4,295,785
1997 6,070,042 4,253,716
1996 6,070,506 4,199,210
1995 6,066,316 4,179,179
1994 5,713,854 4,173,105
1993 5,676,843 4,157,130
1992 5,858,407 4,166,366
1991 5,703,857 4,246,267
1990 5,587,052 4,196,828
1989 5,471,706 4,034,037
1988 5,365,327 3,934,517
1987 5,247,787 3,829,718
1986 5,129,414 3,728,380
1985 5,034,042 3,638,438
1984 4,926,465 3,558,758
1983 4,808,528 3,481,646
1982 4,681,390 3,408,183
1981 4,566,014 3,338,940
1980 4,383,706 3,272,089
1979 4,203,530 3,207,499
1978 4,100,338 3,145,517
1977 3,983,582 3,085,354
1976 3,882,626 3,028,820
1975 3,796,612 2,974,657
1974 3,703,590 2,920,459
1973 3,611,991 2,866,955
1972 3,617,128 2,814,388
1971 3,617,289 2,763,222
1970 3,530,432 2,712,286
1969 3,454,590 2,661,365
1968 3,380,387 2,611,532
1967 3,300,690 2,562,384
1966 3,217,960 2,514,638
1965 3,141,367 2,468,666
1964 3,055,650 2,424,390
1963 2,969,841 2,382,258
1962 2,907,943 2,342,242
1961 2,835,119 2,304,227
1960 2,764,258 2,268,356

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burundi increased by 3,373,904 people (a 42.9% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burundi gained 3,594,312 people (a 32% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Burundi was ranked 93rd most populous country in 2006 and is 78th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Burundi's population will grow by 63.5% to 24,248,417 people with a rank change from 78th to 69th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Burundi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 38.3M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burundi Sierra Leone
2100 0.31% -0.09%
2099 0.37% -0.08%
2098 0.37% -0.09%
2097 0.36% -0.07%
2096 0.38% -0.05%
2095 0.47% 0.002%
2094 0.44% -0.03%
2093 0.45% 0.02%
2092 0.45% 0.04%
2091 0.47% 0.06%
2090 0.57% 0.07%
2089 0.57% 0.09%
2088 0.53% 0.1%
2087 0.58% 0.17%
2086 0.67% 0.13%
2085 0.64% 0.15%
2084 0.63% 0.21%
2083 0.73% 0.23%
2082 0.79% 0.25%
2081 0.71% 0.24%
2080 0.81% 0.26%
2079 0.85% 0.31%
2078 0.93% 0.32%
2077 0.86% 0.35%
2076 0.97% 0.38%
2075 0.94% 0.35%
2074 1% 0.44%
2073 1.01% 0.45%
2072 0.97% 0.47%
2071 1.11% 0.51%
2070 1.1% 0.53%
2069 1.12% 0.59%
2068 1.19% 0.64%
2067 1.17% 0.65%
2066 1.26% 0.66%
2065 1.17% 0.66%
2064 1.16% 0.67%
2063 1.22% 0.77%
2062 1.24% 0.73%
2061 1.25% 0.79%
2060 1.28% 0.79%
2059 1.27% 0.84%
2058 1.29% 0.86%
2057 1.38% 0.9%
2056 1.38% 0.95%
2055 1.47% 0.93%
2054 1.49% 1.01%
2053 1.52% 1.06%
2052 1.52% 1.12%
2051 1.52% 1.12%
2050 1.71% 1.11%
2049 1.64% 1.19%
2048 1.75% 1.16%
2047 1.65% 1.26%
2046 1.85% 1.28%
2045 1.93% 1.37%
2044 1.95% 1.35%
2043 2.06% 1.37%
2042 1.98% 1.44%
2041 2.06% 1.5%
2040 2.13% 1.5%
2039 2.15% 1.47%
2038 2.21% 1.54%
2037 2.23% 1.59%
2036 2.17% 1.65%
2035 2.19% 1.65%
2034 2.24% 1.69%
2033 2.28% 1.78%
2032 2.32% 1.81%
2031 2.29% 1.81%
2030 2.34% 1.85%
2029 2.48% 1.83%
2028 2.39% 1.97%
2027 2.33% 1.98%
2026 2.38% 2.03%
2025 2.49% 2.08%
2024 2.62% 2.15%
2023 2.77% 2.22%
2022 2.74% 2.25%
2021 2.76% 2.3%
2020 2.95% 2.34%
2019 3.34% 2.35%
2018 3.07% 2.38%
2017 2.38% 2.41%
2016 1.74% 2.38%
2015 2.29% 2.35%
2014 3.45% 2.42%
2013 3.66% 2.49%
2012 3.63% 2.56%
2011 3.64% 2.64%
2010 4.79% 2.76%
2009 5.2% 2.73%
2008 4.21% 2.53%
2007 3.77% 2.22%
2006 3.67% 2.23%
2005 3.78% 2.73%
2004 3.8% 3.44%
2003 3.21% 4.15%
2002 2.86% 5.94%
2001 2.54% 6.08%
2000 2.1% 2.44%
1999 2.43% 0.52%
1998 1.93% 0.99%
1997 -0.008% 1.3%
1996 0.07% 0.48%
1995 6.17% 0.15%
1994 0.65% 0.38%
1993 -3.1% -0.22%
1992 2.71% -1.88%
1991 2.09% 1.18%
1990 2.11% 4.04%
1989 1.98% 2.53%
1988 2.24% 2.74%
1987 2.31% 2.72%
1986 1.89% 2.47%
1985 2.18% 2.24%
1984 2.45% 2.21%
1983 2.72% 2.16%
1982 2.53% 2.07%
1981 4.16% 2.04%
1980 4.29% 2.01%
1979 2.52% 1.97%
1978 2.93% 1.95%
1977 2.6% 1.87%
1976 2.27% 1.82%
1975 2.51% 1.86%
1974 2.54% 1.87%
1973 -0.14% 1.87%
1972 -0.004% 1.85%
1971 2.46% 1.88%
1970 2.2% 1.91%
1969 2.2% 1.91%
1968 2.41% 1.92%
1967 2.57% 1.9%
1966 2.44% 1.86%
1965 2.81% 1.83%
1964 2.89% 1.77%
1963 2.13% 1.71%
1962 2.57% 1.65%
1961 2.56% 1.58%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burundi grew by 2.62%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Burundi Sierra Leone
Current population
14833763
9049533
Population rank 78/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.11%
One net population change
1.47 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
1.14 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
5.72 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +982 +497
Annual growth/decline +358,336 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 47/197
One migration net change every
15.2 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -34,727 -11,309
Net migration rank 169/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 387,101 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 90/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 119/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burundi
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burundi Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -34,727 - -11,309
2024 - -27,074 - -11,000
2023 368,917 1,995 188,788 -4,000
2022 363,786 1,995 186,625 -4,000
2021 359,844 -14,415 183,326 -1,544
2020 361,654 -10,189 181,015 1,292
2019 357,672 14,253 181,068 -2,238
2018 351,704 68,141 178,772 -2,741
2017 353,879 -68,349 173,259 1,234
2016 358,393 -109,296 168,784 4,657
2015 370,856 -236,207 162,275 -356
2014 367,797 -6,856 160,137 485
2013 362,224 -2,285 161,265 2,773
2012 354,068 22,617 160,915 988
2011 348,934 -19,513 158,858 6,895
2010 341,808 11,845 155,338 7,983
2009 319,583 184,359 152,669 18,145
2008 300,750 79,319 149,855 1,182
2007 285,323 22,129 145,740 -6,042
2006 269,874 15,322 144,127 -34,052
2005 253,401 17,905 137,234 -1,805
2004 234,891 47,091 132,661 23,897
2003 216,295 36,719 130,312 69,185
2002 201,892 -16,871 126,429 86,578
2001 184,541 9,967 116,647 227,791
2000 173,867 -40,032 110,754 83,013
1999 166,699 -34,465 102,295 -84,926
1998 154,010 13,840 103,906 -76,766
1997 150,404 -84,126 105,433 -48,437
1996 158,920 -226,317 104,140 -52,110
1995 160,284 -84,697 100,885 -112,857
1994 112,968 516,373 101,486 -77,371
1993 128,898 -684,261 103,317 -95,476
1992 156,420 35,769 103,251 -129,565
1991 156,148 -39,236 105,477 -238,965
1990 156,617 -39,926 100,778 131,587
1989 157,547 -43,561 98,298 -5,079
1988 145,234 -46,464 96,344 9,470
1987 157,481 -21,179 94,235 9,558
1986 156,170 -55,742 90,902 7,992
1985 156,896 -66,574 88,869 -7,873
1984 154,366 -29,534 87,072 -8,708
1983 152,801 -41,756 84,628 -8,783
1982 147,090 -3,844 82,457 -11,379
1981 146,231 -58,723 80,111 -12,699
1980 127,746 149,361 77,932 -11,641
1979 123,377 -40,126 75,992 -13,095
1978 114,884 8,247 74,130 -13,073
1977 108,488 1,884 71,663 -12,399
1976 104,396 -12,848 69,506 -15,686
1975 101,172 -20,693 67,560 -13,058
1974 95,486 10,065 65,357 -11,473
1973 74,805 2,843 62,443 -9,322
1972 30,532 -118,457 60,279 -8,267
1971 95,153 -7,569 58,484 -8,162
1970 92,476 -6,346 56,513 -4,957
1969 90,852 -25,292 54,768 -4,485
1968 88,765 -5,917 53,126 -3,743
1967 86,373 -9,821 51,734 -2,819
1966 83,651 5,262 49,486 -2,911
1965 78,208 -13,947 47,223 -1,851
1964 77,528 29,639 45,487 -2,308
1963 75,962 -11,502 43,569 -2,480
1962 74,710 -15,378 41,603 -2,658
1961 71,216 15,094 40,022 -2,947
1960 70,032 -14,620 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/sierra-leone | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91% of the population change in Burundi is from natural causes (a gain of 3,614,502 people) and 9.03% is from migration (a loss of 358,928 people). In Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 387,101 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Burundi, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Ngozi 39.9K
Bubanza 20K
Muyinga 9.61K
Makamba 9.4K
Ruyigi 7.14K
Rutana 5.86K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/sierra-leone | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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