The latest officially reported population of Cape Verde was 527,326 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cape Verde's population is 530,853 people compared to 9,090,531 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 100th.
- 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 +0.26% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
- Since 2006, the population of Cape Verde has increased from 491K people to 531K (8.18% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).
Cape Verde vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 419,997 | 16,107,087 |
| 2099 | 424,272 | 16,121,940 |
| 2098 | 428,479 | 16,135,035 |
| 2097 | 432,755 | 16,149,905 |
| 2096 | 437,010 | 16,160,672 |
| 2095 | 441,329 | 16,169,304 |
| 2094 | 445,663 | 16,168,902 |
| 2093 | 450,029 | 16,173,609 |
| 2092 | 454,324 | 16,170,778 |
| 2091 | 458,616 | 16,163,901 |
| 2090 | 462,925 | 16,154,165 |
| 2089 | 467,304 | 16,142,526 |
| 2088 | 471,550 | 16,128,775 |
| 2087 | 475,770 | 16,112,585 |
| 2086 | 479,948 | 16,085,549 |
| 2085 | 484,130 | 16,064,212 |
| 2084 | 488,284 | 16,040,563 |
| 2083 | 492,265 | 16,006,923 |
| 2082 | 496,287 | 15,970,872 |
| 2081 | 500,248 | 15,930,880 |
| 2080 | 504,114 | 15,892,665 |
| 2079 | 507,910 | 15,850,728 |
| 2078 | 511,491 | 15,801,450 |
| 2077 | 514,982 | 15,750,408 |
| 2076 | 518,448 | 15,695,310 |
| 2075 | 521,841 | 15,635,345 |
| 2074 | 525,092 | 15,580,279 |
| 2073 | 528,231 | 15,512,655 |
| 2072 | 531,275 | 15,442,481 |
| 2071 | 534,138 | 15,370,747 |
| 2070 | 537,082 | 15,293,426 |
| 2069 | 539,993 | 15,212,664 |
| 2068 | 542,768 | 15,124,069 |
| 2067 | 545,560 | 15,028,190 |
| 2066 | 548,154 | 14,931,295 |
| 2065 | 550,545 | 14,833,794 |
| 2064 | 552,744 | 14,736,872 |
| 2063 | 554,888 | 14,638,180 |
| 2062 | 556,973 | 14,525,736 |
| 2061 | 558,855 | 14,420,068 |
| 2060 | 560,518 | 14,307,451 |
| 2059 | 562,114 | 14,194,972 |
| 2058 | 563,436 | 14,077,124 |
| 2057 | 564,587 | 13,957,197 |
| 2056 | 565,521 | 13,832,494 |
| 2055 | 566,347 | 13,702,508 |
| 2054 | 567,010 | 13,576,231 |
| 2053 | 567,363 | 13,440,929 |
| 2052 | 567,478 | 13,299,910 |
| 2051 | 567,476 | 13,152,910 |
| 2050 | 567,344 | 13,006,688 |
| 2049 | 567,002 | 12,863,637 |
| 2048 | 566,562 | 12,712,671 |
| 2047 | 566,027 | 12,566,944 |
| 2046 | 565,225 | 12,411,042 |
| 2045 | 564,268 | 12,254,651 |
| 2044 | 563,194 | 12,088,895 |
| 2043 | 562,030 | 11,928,393 |
| 2042 | 560,769 | 11,767,372 |
| 2041 | 559,386 | 11,599,942 |
| 2040 | 557,874 | 11,428,331 |
| 2039 | 556,224 | 11,259,845 |
| 2038 | 554,435 | 11,097,180 |
| 2037 | 552,627 | 10,928,754 |
| 2036 | 550,801 | 10,757,928 |
| 2035 | 548,853 | 10,582,918 |
| 2034 | 546,915 | 10,411,088 |
| 2033 | 545,056 | 10,238,503 |
| 2032 | 542,980 | 10,059,929 |
| 2031 | 540,984 | 9,881,109 |
| 2030 | 538,671 | 9,705,485 |
| 2029 | 536,441 | 9,529,493 |
| 2028 | 534,196 | 9,358,412 |
| 2027 | 531,944 | 9,177,288 |
| 2026 | 529,702 | 8,998,902 |
| 2025 | 527,326 | 8,819,794 |
| 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
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 18,299 people (a 3.57% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).
Cape Verde was ranked 166th most populous country in 2006 and is 169th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cape Verde's population will grow by 6.87% to 567,344 people with a rank change from 169th to 168th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.
Cape Verde is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 567K 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 | 0.47% | 2.06% |
| 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Cape Verde grew by 0.47%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.
Live population counters
|
Cape Verde
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
530853
|
9090531
|
| Population rank | 169/197 | 100/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.11% |
| One net population change |
3.59 hours
|
2.96 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.37 hours
|
2.02 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.28 hours
|
7.41 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +7 | +487 |
| Annual growth/decline | +2,449 | +177,772 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.47% | +2.06% |
| Population growth rate rank | 132/197 | 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 | 3,741 | -1,209 | 189,234 | -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 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 58.5% of the population change in Cape Verde is from natural causes (a gain of 47,312 people) and 41.5% is from migration (a loss of 33,510 people). In Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 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 | 31.9 years | 24.6 years |
| Median age | 30 years | 20.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.51 births per woman | 3.7 births per woman |
| Population density | 340 ppl/mi² | 323 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/sierra-leone | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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