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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 3.41 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Cameroon vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Sierra Leone
2100 89,781,496 16,111,324
2099 89,255,966 16,126,181
2098 88,720,337 16,139,280
2097 88,168,066 16,154,153
2096 87,604,050 16,164,923
2095 87,032,145 16,173,557
2094 86,441,720 16,173,155
2093 85,842,389 16,177,864
2092 85,235,505 16,175,032
2091 84,610,360 16,168,153
2090 83,973,967 16,158,415
2089 83,322,813 16,146,773
2088 82,662,944 16,133,018
2087 81,989,354 16,116,823
2086 81,310,407 16,089,780
2085 80,614,775 16,068,438
2084 79,910,947 16,044,782
2083 79,192,092 16,011,134
2082 78,464,535 15,975,073
2081 77,723,079 15,935,071
2080 76,963,821 15,896,846
2079 76,202,603 15,854,898
2078 75,431,803 15,805,607
2077 74,649,057 15,754,551
2076 73,862,841 15,699,439
2075 73,062,202 15,639,458
2074 72,248,179 15,584,377
2073 71,432,221 15,516,736
2072 70,603,305 15,446,543
2071 69,771,981 15,374,790
2070 68,936,208 15,297,449
2069 68,095,292 15,216,666
2068 67,251,348 15,128,048
2067 66,399,507 15,032,144
2066 65,539,313 14,935,222
2065 64,675,474 14,837,697
2064 63,807,579 14,740,749
2063 62,939,156 14,642,031
2062 62,065,714 14,529,557
2061 61,188,220 14,423,861
2060 60,302,920 14,311,215
2059 59,413,352 14,198,706
2058 58,519,385 14,080,827
2057 57,622,572 13,960,869
2056 56,730,793 13,836,132
2055 55,837,458 13,706,113
2054 54,935,159 13,579,802
2053 54,032,780 13,444,465
2052 53,122,812 13,303,409
2051 52,215,921 13,156,370
2050 51,314,050 13,010,109
2049 50,406,453 12,867,021
2048 49,501,629 12,716,015
2047 48,593,064 12,570,250
2046 47,688,721 12,414,307
2045 46,789,773 12,257,874
2044 45,890,362 12,092,075
2043 44,999,297 11,931,531
2042 44,103,714 11,770,467
2041 43,204,033 11,602,993
2040 42,316,677 11,431,337
2039 41,430,803 11,262,807
2038 40,554,253 11,100,099
2037 39,682,947 10,931,629
2036 38,815,989 10,760,758
2035 37,963,436 10,585,702
2034 37,116,013 10,413,826
2033 36,279,025 10,241,196
2032 35,446,827 10,062,575
2031 34,626,572 9,883,708
2030 33,811,853 9,708,038
2029 33,009,874 9,532,000
2028 32,213,983 9,360,873
2027 31,428,884 9,179,702
2026 30,654,707 9,001,269
2025 29,885,995 8,822,114
2024 29,123,744 8,642,022
2023 28,372,687 8,460,512
2022 27,632,771 8,276,807
2021 26,915,758 8,094,602
2020 26,210,558 7,912,558
2019 25,506,095 7,731,991
2018 24,806,383 7,554,563
2017 24,128,601 7,379,299
2016 23,454,161 7,205,328
2015 22,763,414 7,037,655
2014 22,059,893 6,876,385
2013 21,402,376 6,714,051
2012 20,809,529 6,551,080
2011 20,232,304 6,387,251
2010 19,668,066 6,222,714
2009 19,113,974 6,055,646
2008 18,574,056 5,894,722
2007 18,049,896 5,749,352
2006 17,550,407 5,624,466
2005 17,074,594 5,501,712
2004 16,610,487 5,355,717
2003 16,160,340 5,177,687
2002 15,725,528 4,971,435
2001 15,309,490 4,692,716
2000 14,912,631 4,423,611
1999 14,525,140 4,318,043
1998 14,144,860 4,295,785
1997 13,775,214 4,253,716
1996 13,414,757 4,199,210
1995 13,058,516 4,179,179
1994 12,704,903 4,173,105
1993 12,353,131 4,157,130
1992 12,006,353 4,166,366
1991 11,667,180 4,246,267
1990 11,331,821 4,196,828
1989 11,002,745 4,034,037
1988 10,684,968 3,934,517
1987 10,370,749 3,829,718
1986 10,060,342 3,728,380
1985 9,761,730 3,638,438
1984 9,475,078 3,558,758
1983 9,215,397 3,481,646
1982 9,028,678 3,408,183
1981 8,816,377 3,338,940
1980 8,512,219 3,272,089
1979 8,239,641 3,207,499
1978 8,011,921 3,145,517
1977 7,796,501 3,085,354
1976 7,597,962 3,028,820
1975 7,397,120 2,974,657
1974 7,193,583 2,920,459
1973 6,996,660 2,866,955
1972 6,806,872 2,814,388
1971 6,624,408 2,763,222
1970 6,449,793 2,712,286
1969 6,283,462 2,661,365
1968 6,125,863 2,611,532
1967 5,977,318 2,562,384
1966 5,837,295 2,514,638
1965 5,704,686 2,468,666
1964 5,578,257 2,424,390
1963 5,456,623 2,382,258
1962 5,338,620 2,342,242
1961 5,239,273 2,304,227
1960 5,159,057 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/cameroon/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st 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) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Sierra Leone
2100 0.59% -0.09%
2099 0.6% -0.08%
2098 0.63% -0.09%
2097 0.64% -0.07%
2096 0.66% -0.05%
2095 0.68% 0.002%
2094 0.7% -0.03%
2093 0.71% 0.02%
2092 0.74% 0.04%
2091 0.76% 0.06%
2090 0.78% 0.07%
2089 0.8% 0.09%
2088 0.82% 0.1%
2087 0.84% 0.17%
2086 0.86% 0.13%
2085 0.88% 0.15%
2084 0.91% 0.21%
2083 0.93% 0.23%
2082 0.95% 0.25%
2081 0.99% 0.24%
2080 1% 0.26%
2079 1.02% 0.31%
2078 1.05% 0.32%
2077 1.06% 0.35%
2076 1.1% 0.38%
2075 1.13% 0.35%
2074 1.14% 0.44%
2073 1.17% 0.45%
2072 1.19% 0.47%
2071 1.21% 0.51%
2070 1.23% 0.53%
2069 1.25% 0.59%
2068 1.28% 0.64%
2067 1.31% 0.65%
2066 1.34% 0.66%
2065 1.36% 0.66%
2064 1.38% 0.67%
2063 1.41% 0.77%
2062 1.43% 0.73%
2061 1.47% 0.79%
2060 1.5% 0.79%
2059 1.53% 0.84%
2058 1.56% 0.86%
2057 1.57% 0.9%
2056 1.6% 0.95%
2055 1.64% 0.93%
2054 1.67% 1.01%
2053 1.71% 1.06%
2052 1.74% 1.12%
2051 1.76% 1.12%
2050 1.8% 1.11%
2049 1.83% 1.19%
2048 1.87% 1.16%
2047 1.9% 1.26%
2046 1.92% 1.28%
2045 1.96% 1.37%
2044 1.98% 1.35%
2043 2.03% 1.37%
2042 2.08% 1.44%
2041 2.1% 1.5%
2040 2.14% 1.5%
2039 2.16% 1.47%
2038 2.2% 1.54%
2037 2.23% 1.59%
2036 2.25% 1.65%
2035 2.28% 1.65%
2034 2.31% 1.69%
2033 2.35% 1.78%
2032 2.37% 1.81%
2031 2.41% 1.81%
2030 2.43% 1.85%
2029 2.47% 1.83%
2028 2.5% 1.97%
2027 2.53% 1.98%
2026 2.57% 2.03%
2025 2.62% 2.08%
2024 2.65% 2.15%
2023 2.68% 2.22%
2022 2.66% 2.25%
2021 2.69% 2.3%
2020 2.76% 2.34%
2019 2.82% 2.35%
2018 2.81% 2.38%
2017 2.88% 2.41%
2016 3.03% 2.38%
2015 3.19% 2.35%
2014 3.07% 2.42%
2013 2.85% 2.49%
2012 2.85% 2.56%
2011 2.87% 2.64%
2010 2.9% 2.76%
2009 2.91% 2.73%
2008 2.9% 2.53%
2007 2.85% 2.22%
2006 2.79% 2.23%
2005 2.79% 2.73%
2004 2.79% 3.44%
2003 2.77% 4.15%
2002 2.72% 5.94%
2001 2.66% 6.08%
2000 2.67% 2.44%
1999 2.69% 0.52%
1998 2.68% 0.99%
1997 2.69% 1.3%
1996 2.73% 0.48%
1995 2.78% 0.15%
1994 2.85% 0.38%
1993 2.89% -0.22%
1992 2.91% -1.88%
1991 2.96% 1.18%
1990 2.99% 4.04%
1989 2.97% 2.53%
1988 3.03% 2.74%
1987 3.09% 2.72%
1986 3.06% 2.47%
1985 3.03% 2.24%
1984 2.82% 2.21%
1983 2.07% 2.16%
1982 2.41% 2.07%
1981 3.57% 2.04%
1980 3.31% 2.01%
1979 2.84% 1.97%
1978 2.76% 1.95%
1977 2.61% 1.87%
1976 2.72% 1.82%
1975 2.83% 1.86%
1974 2.81% 1.87%
1973 2.79% 1.87%
1972 2.75% 1.85%
1971 2.71% 1.88%
1970 2.65% 1.91%
1969 2.57% 1.91%
1968 2.49% 1.92%
1967 2.4% 1.9%
1966 2.32% 1.86%
1965 2.27% 1.83%
1964 2.23% 1.77%
1963 2.21% 1.71%
1962 1.9% 1.65%
1961 1.55% 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/cameroon/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Sierra Leone
Current population
30864115
9049533
Population rank 51/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.11%
One net population change
42 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
32.9 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.59 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +497
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 47/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -11,309
Net migration rank 146/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -11,309
2024 - -13,892 - -11,000
2023 754,486 -4,798 188,788 -4,000
2022 734,893 -4,798 186,625 -4,000
2021 713,806 -9,888 183,326 -1,544
2020 716,361 -9,888 181,015 1,292
2019 714,681 -12,255 181,068 -2,238
2018 706,188 -9,184 178,772 -2,741
2017 696,496 -37,912 173,259 1,234
2016 677,051 13,255 168,784 4,657
2015 649,190 42,008 162,275 -356
2014 619,243 96,599 160,137 485
2013 606,072 -6,900 161,265 2,773
2012 594,029 -7,523 160,915 988
2011 580,607 -12,669 158,858 6,895
2010 569,921 -9,366 155,338 7,983
2009 557,841 -10,203 152,669 18,145
2008 542,919 -10,720 149,855 1,182
2007 526,949 -10,807 145,740 -6,042
2006 511,366 -28,528 144,127 -34,052
2005 496,547 -27,775 137,234 -1,805
2004 478,880 -19,444 132,661 23,897
2003 459,422 -18,568 130,312 69,185
2002 439,544 -10,766 126,429 86,578
2001 422,511 -19,203 116,647 227,791
2000 411,633 -21,221 110,754 83,013
1999 401,969 -17,398 102,295 -84,926
1998 388,432 -12,446 103,906 -76,766
1997 377,138 -13,842 105,433 -48,437
1996 370,355 -12,738 104,140 -52,110
1995 367,532 -12,661 100,885 -112,857
1994 364,390 -12,028 101,486 -77,371
1993 360,785 -9,601 103,317 -95,476
1992 356,072 -13,702 103,251 -129,565
1991 350,493 -14,520 105,477 -238,965
1990 342,901 -8,163 100,778 131,587
1989 334,649 -11,244 98,298 -5,079
1988 328,168 -16,016 96,344 9,470
1987 320,134 -3,829 94,235 9,558
1986 308,188 -3,671 90,902 7,992
1985 296,317 -3,604 88,869 -7,873
1984 284,110 -3,512 87,072 -8,708
1983 276,112 -37,346 84,628 -8,783
1982 274,652 -139,974 82,457 -11,379
1981 262,076 27,845 80,111 -12,699
1980 247,808 70,589 77,932 -11,641
1979 238,875 -12,108 75,992 -13,095
1978 229,958 -1,282 74,130 -13,073
1977 222,785 -20,622 71,663 -12,399
1976 214,916 -19,994 69,506 -15,686
1975 206,986 -237 67,560 -13,058
1974 200,693 -377 65,357 -11,473
1973 193,997 -466 62,443 -9,322
1972 186,521 -473 60,279 -8,267
1971 179,317 -439 58,484 -8,162
1970 170,713 -367 56,513 -4,957
1969 162,603 -286 54,768 -4,485
1968 153,080 -204 53,126 -3,743
1967 144,370 -148 51,734 -2,819
1966 135,927 -96 49,486 -2,911
1965 129,428 -39 47,223 -1,851
1964 123,469 0 45,487 -2,308
1963 119,784 0 43,569 -2,480
1962 116,232 0 41,603 -2,658
1961 82,471 0 40,022 -2,947
1960 77,948 0 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 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, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
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/cameroon/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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