The latest officially reported population of Cape Verde was 524,877 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cape Verde's population is 530,391 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.
Population statistics:
- Sierra Leone's population is 17.1 times bigger than Cape Verde's.
- Cape Verde is ranked the 169th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
- The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.006% for Cape Verde vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
- For the last 10 years, Cape Verde has had an average growth rate of +0.22% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
- Since 2006, the population of Cape Verde has increased from 491K people to 530K (8.08% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).
Cape Verde vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 420,063 | 16,111,324 |
| 2099 | 424,339 | 16,126,181 |
| 2098 | 428,547 | 16,139,280 |
| 2097 | 432,823 | 16,154,153 |
| 2096 | 437,079 | 16,164,923 |
| 2095 | 441,399 | 16,173,557 |
| 2094 | 445,733 | 16,173,155 |
| 2093 | 450,100 | 16,177,864 |
| 2092 | 454,396 | 16,175,032 |
| 2091 | 458,688 | 16,168,153 |
| 2090 | 462,998 | 16,158,415 |
| 2089 | 467,377 | 16,146,773 |
| 2088 | 471,624 | 16,133,018 |
| 2087 | 475,845 | 16,116,823 |
| 2086 | 480,024 | 16,089,780 |
| 2085 | 484,207 | 16,068,438 |
| 2084 | 488,361 | 16,044,782 |
| 2083 | 492,342 | 16,011,134 |
| 2082 | 496,365 | 15,975,073 |
| 2081 | 500,326 | 15,935,071 |
| 2080 | 504,194 | 15,896,846 |
| 2079 | 507,990 | 15,854,898 |
| 2078 | 511,571 | 15,805,607 |
| 2077 | 515,063 | 15,754,551 |
| 2076 | 518,529 | 15,699,439 |
| 2075 | 521,923 | 15,639,458 |
| 2074 | 525,175 | 15,584,377 |
| 2073 | 528,314 | 15,516,736 |
| 2072 | 531,359 | 15,446,543 |
| 2071 | 534,222 | 15,374,790 |
| 2070 | 537,167 | 15,297,449 |
| 2069 | 540,078 | 15,216,666 |
| 2068 | 542,854 | 15,128,048 |
| 2067 | 545,645 | 15,032,144 |
| 2066 | 548,241 | 14,935,222 |
| 2065 | 550,631 | 14,837,697 |
| 2064 | 552,831 | 14,740,749 |
| 2063 | 554,976 | 14,642,031 |
| 2062 | 557,061 | 14,529,557 |
| 2061 | 558,943 | 14,423,861 |
| 2060 | 560,606 | 14,311,215 |
| 2059 | 562,202 | 14,198,706 |
| 2058 | 563,524 | 14,080,827 |
| 2057 | 564,676 | 13,960,869 |
| 2056 | 565,611 | 13,836,132 |
| 2055 | 566,437 | 13,706,113 |
| 2054 | 567,099 | 13,579,802 |
| 2053 | 567,452 | 13,444,465 |
| 2052 | 567,567 | 13,303,409 |
| 2051 | 567,565 | 13,156,370 |
| 2050 | 567,433 | 13,010,109 |
| 2049 | 567,091 | 12,867,021 |
| 2048 | 566,651 | 12,716,015 |
| 2047 | 566,116 | 12,570,250 |
| 2046 | 565,314 | 12,414,307 |
| 2045 | 564,356 | 12,257,874 |
| 2044 | 563,283 | 12,092,075 |
| 2043 | 562,118 | 11,931,531 |
| 2042 | 560,857 | 11,770,467 |
| 2041 | 559,474 | 11,602,993 |
| 2040 | 557,962 | 11,431,337 |
| 2039 | 556,312 | 11,262,807 |
| 2038 | 554,523 | 11,100,099 |
| 2037 | 552,714 | 10,931,629 |
| 2036 | 550,888 | 10,760,758 |
| 2035 | 548,939 | 10,585,702 |
| 2034 | 547,001 | 10,413,826 |
| 2033 | 545,142 | 10,241,196 |
| 2032 | 543,065 | 10,062,575 |
| 2031 | 541,069 | 9,883,708 |
| 2030 | 538,756 | 9,708,038 |
| 2029 | 536,526 | 9,532,000 |
| 2028 | 534,280 | 9,360,873 |
| 2027 | 532,028 | 9,179,702 |
| 2026 | 529,785 | 9,001,269 |
| 2025 | 527,409 | 8,822,114 |
| 2024 | 524,877 | 8,642,022 |
| 2023 | 522,331 | 8,460,512 |
| 2022 | 519,741 | 8,276,807 |
| 2021 | 516,649 | 8,094,602 |
| 2020 | 514,679 | 7,912,558 |
| 2019 | 514,104 | 7,731,991 |
| 2018 | 513,415 | 7,554,563 |
| 2017 | 512,893 | 7,379,299 |
| 2016 | 512,554 | 7,205,328 |
| 2015 | 512,394 | 7,037,655 |
| 2014 | 512,326 | 6,876,385 |
| 2013 | 512,225 | 6,714,051 |
| 2012 | 511,955 | 6,551,080 |
| 2011 | 511,447 | 6,387,251 |
| 2010 | 509,784 | 6,222,714 |
| 2009 | 506,141 | 6,055,646 |
| 2008 | 501,355 | 5,894,722 |
| 2007 | 496,190 | 5,749,352 |
| 2006 | 490,728 | 5,624,466 |
| 2005 | 485,115 | 5,501,712 |
| 2004 | 479,370 | 5,355,717 |
| 2003 | 473,383 | 5,177,687 |
| 2002 | 467,046 | 4,971,435 |
| 2001 | 460,293 | 4,692,716 |
| 2000 | 453,317 | 4,423,611 |
| 1999 | 446,519 | 4,318,043 |
| 1998 | 439,784 | 4,295,785 |
| 1997 | 432,798 | 4,253,716 |
| 1996 | 425,581 | 4,199,210 |
| 1995 | 418,104 | 4,179,179 |
| 1994 | 410,228 | 4,173,105 |
| 1993 | 401,965 | 4,157,130 |
| 1992 | 393,415 | 4,166,366 |
| 1991 | 384,586 | 4,246,267 |
| 1990 | 375,428 | 4,196,828 |
| 1989 | 367,803 | 4,034,037 |
| 1988 | 362,329 | 3,934,517 |
| 1987 | 357,302 | 3,829,718 |
| 1986 | 352,312 | 3,728,380 |
| 1985 | 347,365 | 3,638,438 |
| 1984 | 342,505 | 3,558,758 |
| 1983 | 337,654 | 3,481,646 |
| 1982 | 332,724 | 3,408,183 |
| 1981 | 327,846 | 3,338,940 |
| 1980 | 323,301 | 3,272,089 |
| 1979 | 319,480 | 3,207,499 |
| 1978 | 316,147 | 3,145,517 |
| 1977 | 312,834 | 3,085,354 |
| 1976 | 309,455 | 3,028,820 |
| 1975 | 305,847 | 2,974,657 |
| 1974 | 302,570 | 2,920,459 |
| 1973 | 299,881 | 2,866,955 |
| 1972 | 297,386 | 2,814,388 |
| 1971 | 294,046 | 2,763,222 |
| 1970 | 287,885 | 2,712,286 |
| 1969 | 279,248 | 2,661,365 |
| 1968 | 270,164 | 2,611,532 |
| 1967 | 261,404 | 2,562,384 |
| 1966 | 252,976 | 2,514,638 |
| 1965 | 244,856 | 2,468,666 |
| 1964 | 237,006 | 2,424,390 |
| 1963 | 229,373 | 2,382,258 |
| 1962 | 221,919 | 2,342,242 |
| 1961 | 215,087 | 2,304,227 |
| 1960 | 210,024 | 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/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cape Verde increased by 21,826 people (a 4.45% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cape Verde gained 17,837 people (a 3.48% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).
Cape Verde was ranked 166th most populous country in 2006 and is 169th 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) Cape Verde's population will grow by 6.98% to 567,433 people with a rank change from 169th to 168th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.
Cape Verde is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 568K people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | -1.01% | -0.09% |
| 2099 | -0.98% | -0.08% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | -0.09% |
| 2097 | -0.97% | -0.07% |
| 2096 | -0.98% | -0.05% |
| 2095 | -0.97% | 0.002% |
| 2094 | -0.97% | -0.03% |
| 2093 | -0.95% | 0.02% |
| 2092 | -0.94% | 0.04% |
| 2091 | -0.93% | 0.06% |
| 2090 | -0.94% | 0.07% |
| 2089 | -0.9% | 0.09% |
| 2088 | -0.89% | 0.1% |
| 2087 | -0.87% | 0.17% |
| 2086 | -0.86% | 0.13% |
| 2085 | -0.85% | 0.15% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | 0.21% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | 0.23% |
| 2082 | -0.79% | 0.25% |
| 2081 | -0.77% | 0.24% |
| 2080 | -0.75% | 0.26% |
| 2079 | -0.7% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.68% | 0.32% |
| 2077 | -0.67% | 0.35% |
| 2076 | -0.65% | 0.38% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | 0.35% |
| 2074 | -0.59% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | -0.57% | 0.45% |
| 2072 | -0.54% | 0.47% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | 0.51% |
| 2070 | -0.54% | 0.53% |
| 2069 | -0.51% | 0.59% |
| 2068 | -0.51% | 0.64% |
| 2067 | -0.47% | 0.65% |
| 2066 | -0.43% | 0.66% |
| 2065 | -0.4% | 0.66% |
| 2064 | -0.39% | 0.67% |
| 2063 | -0.37% | 0.77% |
| 2062 | -0.34% | 0.73% |
| 2061 | -0.3% | 0.79% |
| 2060 | -0.28% | 0.79% |
| 2059 | -0.23% | 0.84% |
| 2058 | -0.2% | 0.86% |
| 2057 | -0.17% | 0.9% |
| 2056 | -0.15% | 0.95% |
| 2055 | -0.12% | 0.93% |
| 2054 | -0.06% | 1.01% |
| 2053 | -0.02% | 1.06% |
| 2052 | 0% | 1.12% |
| 2051 | 0.02% | 1.12% |
| 2050 | 0.06% | 1.11% |
| 2049 | 0.08% | 1.19% |
| 2048 | 0.09% | 1.16% |
| 2047 | 0.14% | 1.26% |
| 2046 | 0.17% | 1.28% |
| 2045 | 0.19% | 1.37% |
| 2044 | 0.21% | 1.35% |
| 2043 | 0.22% | 1.37% |
| 2042 | 0.25% | 1.44% |
| 2041 | 0.27% | 1.5% |
| 2040 | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| 2039 | 0.32% | 1.47% |
| 2038 | 0.33% | 1.54% |
| 2037 | 0.33% | 1.59% |
| 2036 | 0.35% | 1.65% |
| 2035 | 0.35% | 1.65% |
| 2034 | 0.34% | 1.69% |
| 2033 | 0.38% | 1.78% |
| 2032 | 0.37% | 1.81% |
| 2031 | 0.43% | 1.81% |
| 2030 | 0.42% | 1.85% |
| 2029 | 0.42% | 1.83% |
| 2028 | 0.42% | 1.97% |
| 2027 | 0.42% | 1.98% |
| 2026 | 0.45% | 2.03% |
| 2025 | 0.48% | 2.08% |
| 2024 | 0.49% | 2.15% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | 2.22% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 2.25% |
| 2021 | 0.38% | 2.3% |
| 2020 | 0.11% | 2.34% |
| 2019 | 0.13% | 2.35% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 2.38% |
| 2017 | 0.07% | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 0.03% | 2.38% |
| 2015 | 0.01% | 2.35% |
| 2014 | 0.02% | 2.42% |
| 2013 | 0.05% | 2.49% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | 2.56% |
| 2011 | 0.33% | 2.64% |
| 2010 | 0.72% | 2.76% |
| 2009 | 0.95% | 2.73% |
| 2008 | 1.04% | 2.53% |
| 2007 | 1.11% | 2.22% |
| 2006 | 1.16% | 2.23% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | 2.73% |
| 2004 | 1.26% | 3.44% |
| 2003 | 1.36% | 4.15% |
| 2002 | 1.47% | 5.94% |
| 2001 | 1.54% | 6.08% |
| 2000 | 1.52% | 2.44% |
| 1999 | 1.53% | 0.52% |
| 1998 | 1.61% | 0.99% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.79% | 0.48% |
| 1995 | 1.92% | 0.15% |
| 1994 | 2.06% | 0.38% |
| 1993 | 2.17% | -0.22% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | -1.88% |
| 1991 | 2.44% | 1.18% |
| 1990 | 2.07% | 4.04% |
| 1989 | 1.51% | 2.53% |
| 1988 | 1.41% | 2.74% |
| 1987 | 1.42% | 2.72% |
| 1986 | 1.42% | 2.47% |
| 1985 | 1.42% | 2.24% |
| 1984 | 1.44% | 2.21% |
| 1983 | 1.48% | 2.16% |
| 1982 | 1.49% | 2.07% |
| 1981 | 1.41% | 2.04% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | 2.01% |
| 1979 | 1.05% | 1.97% |
| 1978 | 1.06% | 1.95% |
| 1977 | 1.09% | 1.87% |
| 1976 | 1.18% | 1.82% |
| 1975 | 1.08% | 1.86% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 0.84% | 1.87% |
| 1972 | 1.14% | 1.85% |
| 1971 | 2.14% | 1.88% |
| 1970 | 3.09% | 1.91% |
| 1969 | 3.36% | 1.91% |
| 1968 | 3.35% | 1.92% |
| 1967 | 3.33% | 1.9% |
| 1966 | 3.32% | 1.86% |
| 1965 | 3.31% | 1.83% |
| 1964 | 3.33% | 1.77% |
| 1963 | 3.36% | 1.71% |
| 1962 | 3.18% | 1.65% |
| 1961 | 2.41% | 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/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Cape Verde grew by 0.49%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.
Live population counters
|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
530391
|
9049533
|
| Population rank | 169/197 | 101/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.11% |
| One net population change |
3.44 hours
|
2.9 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.36 hours
|
2.03 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.32 hours
|
7.5 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +7 | +497 |
| Annual growth/decline | +2,546 | +181,510 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.49% | +2.15% |
| Population growth rate rank | 136/197 | 47/197 |
| One migration net change every |
6.84 hours
|
46.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -1,284 | -11,309 |
| Net migration rank | 94/196 | 136/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 16,515 | 49,997 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 171/195 | 151/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.1% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 116/195 | 174/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,284 | - | -11,309 |
| 2024 | - | -1,209 | - | -11,000 |
| 2023 | 3,798 | -1,226 | 188,788 | -4,000 |
| 2022 | 3,864 | -1,253 | 186,625 | -4,000 |
| 2021 | 3,575 | 0 | 183,326 | -1,544 |
| 2020 | 3,734 | -3,362 | 181,015 | 1,292 |
| 2019 | 4,773 | -4,001 | 181,068 | -2,238 |
| 2018 | 5,282 | -4,679 | 178,772 | -2,741 |
| 2017 | 5,993 | -5,550 | 173,259 | 1,234 |
| 2016 | 6,238 | -6,004 | 168,784 | 4,657 |
| 2015 | 6,314 | -6,226 | 162,275 | -356 |
| 2014 | 6,622 | -6,578 | 160,137 | 485 |
| 2013 | 6,780 | -6,622 | 161,265 | 2,773 |
| 2012 | 7,157 | -6,779 | 160,915 | 988 |
| 2011 | 7,874 | -7,226 | 158,858 | 6,895 |
| 2010 | 7,746 | -5,069 | 155,338 | 7,983 |
| 2009 | 7,216 | -2,618 | 152,669 | 18,145 |
| 2008 | 7,313 | -2,340 | 149,855 | 1,182 |
| 2007 | 7,559 | -2,200 | 145,740 | -6,042 |
| 2006 | 7,980 | -2,408 | 144,127 | -34,052 |
| 2005 | 8,428 | -2,768 | 137,234 | -1,805 |
| 2004 | 8,825 | -2,993 | 132,661 | 23,897 |
| 2003 | 9,037 | -2,898 | 130,312 | 69,185 |
| 2002 | 9,278 | -2,751 | 126,429 | 86,578 |
| 2001 | 9,510 | -2,528 | 116,647 | 227,791 |
| 2000 | 9,752 | -2,772 | 110,754 | 83,013 |
| 1999 | 9,989 | -3,371 | 102,295 | -84,926 |
| 1998 | 10,187 | -3,332 | 103,906 | -76,766 |
| 1997 | 10,323 | -3,211 | 105,433 | -48,437 |
| 1996 | 10,613 | -3,297 | 104,140 | -52,110 |
| 1995 | 10,764 | -3,125 | 100,885 | -112,857 |
| 1994 | 11,410 | -3,299 | 101,486 | -77,371 |
| 1993 | 11,805 | -3,393 | 103,317 | -95,476 |
| 1992 | 11,915 | -3,231 | 103,251 | -129,565 |
| 1991 | 11,899 | -2,924 | 105,477 | -238,965 |
| 1990 | 11,738 | -2,398 | 100,778 | 131,587 |
| 1989 | 11,608 | -5,704 | 98,298 | -5,079 |
| 1988 | 11,523 | -6,474 | 96,344 | 9,470 |
| 1987 | 11,426 | -6,418 | 94,235 | 9,558 |
| 1986 | 11,295 | -6,314 | 90,902 | 7,992 |
| 1985 | 11,105 | -6,192 | 88,869 | -7,873 |
| 1984 | 10,835 | -6,035 | 87,072 | -8,708 |
| 1983 | 10,736 | -5,834 | 84,628 | -8,783 |
| 1982 | 10,597 | -5,629 | 82,457 | -11,379 |
| 1981 | 10,470 | -5,684 | 80,111 | -12,699 |
| 1980 | 10,276 | -5,980 | 77,932 | -11,641 |
| 1979 | 10,223 | -6,875 | 75,992 | -13,095 |
| 1978 | 10,152 | -6,833 | 74,130 | -13,073 |
| 1977 | 10,036 | -6,730 | 71,663 | -12,399 |
| 1976 | 9,833 | -6,389 | 69,506 | -15,686 |
| 1975 | 9,601 | -5,829 | 67,560 | -13,058 |
| 1974 | 9,295 | -6,512 | 65,357 | -11,473 |
| 1973 | 9,003 | -6,410 | 62,443 | -9,322 |
| 1972 | 8,716 | -6,316 | 60,279 | -8,267 |
| 1971 | 8,359 | -4,085 | 58,484 | -8,162 |
| 1970 | 7,878 | 172 | 56,513 | -4,957 |
| 1969 | 7,625 | 1,608 | 54,768 | -4,485 |
| 1968 | 7,408 | 1,521 | 53,126 | -3,743 |
| 1967 | 7,214 | 1,376 | 51,734 | -2,819 |
| 1966 | 7,039 | 1,230 | 49,486 | -2,911 |
| 1965 | 6,877 | 1,093 | 47,223 | -1,851 |
| 1964 | 6,725 | 1,006 | 45,487 | -2,308 |
| 1963 | 6,589 | 945 | 43,569 | -2,480 |
| 1962 | 6,468 | 904 | 41,603 | -2,658 |
| 1961 | 6,247 | 49 | 40,022 | -2,947 |
| 1960 | 6,098 | -2,267 | 38,192 | -3,528 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 56.4% of the population change in Cape Verde is from natural causes (a gain of 50,193 people) and 43.6% is from migration (a loss of 38,879 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, 16,515 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Cape Verde, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.
Biggest cities by population
|
Cape Verde
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Praia | 159K |
| Mindelo | 70.5K |
| Assomada | 12K |
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Cape Verde and Sierra Leone
|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.6 years | 62.3 years |
| Average age | 31.4 years | 24.4 years |
| Median age | 29.4 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 births per woman | 3.79 births per woman |
| Population density | 340 ppl/mi² | 323 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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