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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 155 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

China vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Sierra Leone
2100 633,320,628 16,111,324
2099 643,959,697 16,126,181
2098 654,691,595 16,139,280
2097 665,517,335 16,154,153
2096 676,438,150 16,164,923
2095 687,457,915 16,173,557
2094 698,589,897 16,173,155
2093 709,852,629 16,177,864
2092 721,251,520 16,175,032
2091 732,791,748 16,168,153
2090 744,501,355 16,158,415
2089 756,404,299 16,146,773
2088 768,478,316 16,133,018
2087 780,707,622 16,116,823
2086 793,081,006 16,089,780
2085 805,608,315 16,068,438
2084 818,268,277 16,044,782
2083 830,972,107 16,011,134
2082 843,721,746 15,975,073
2081 856,534,631 15,935,071
2080 869,351,919 15,896,846
2079 882,146,959 15,854,898
2078 894,889,246 15,805,607
2077 907,592,919 15,754,551
2076 920,280,380 15,699,439
2075 932,956,157 15,639,458
2074 945,631,173 15,584,377
2073 958,352,980 15,516,736
2072 971,115,895 15,446,543
2071 983,938,054 15,374,790
2070 996,853,418 15,297,449
2069 1,009,905,851 15,216,666
2068 1,023,081,790 15,128,048
2067 1,036,420,010 15,032,144
2066 1,049,887,382 14,935,222
2065 1,063,477,623 14,837,697
2064 1,077,206,695 14,740,749
2063 1,090,982,303 14,642,031
2062 1,104,833,556 14,529,557
2061 1,118,682,849 14,423,861
2060 1,132,504,136 14,311,215
2059 1,146,199,736 14,198,706
2058 1,159,714,746 14,080,827
2057 1,172,963,523 13,960,869
2056 1,185,938,083 13,836,132
2055 1,198,550,408 13,706,113
2054 1,210,749,681 13,579,802
2053 1,222,500,569 13,444,465
2052 1,233,808,926 13,303,409
2051 1,244,584,333 13,156,370
2050 1,254,824,040 13,010,109
2049 1,264,598,914 12,867,021
2048 1,273,885,471 12,716,015
2047 1,282,701,271 12,570,250
2046 1,291,133,690 12,414,307
2045 1,299,154,327 12,257,874
2044 1,306,805,350 12,092,075
2043 1,314,176,710 11,931,531
2042 1,321,319,298 11,770,467
2041 1,328,219,755 11,602,993
2040 1,334,857,481 11,431,337
2039 1,341,265,381 11,262,807
2038 1,347,407,165 11,100,099
2037 1,353,377,505 10,931,629
2036 1,359,133,287 10,760,758
2035 1,364,651,508 10,585,702
2034 1,369,940,557 10,413,826
2033 1,375,003,005 10,241,196
2032 1,379,784,204 10,062,575
2031 1,384,301,522 9,883,708
2030 1,388,520,533 9,708,038
2029 1,392,490,007 9,532,000
2028 1,396,163,778 9,360,873
2027 1,399,515,824 9,179,702
2026 1,402,578,808 9,001,269
2025 1,405,826,385 8,822,114
2024 1,408,975,000 8,642,022
2023 1,410,710,000 8,460,512
2022 1,412,175,000 8,276,807
2021 1,412,360,000 8,094,602
2020 1,411,100,000 7,912,558
2019 1,407,745,000 7,731,991
2018 1,402,760,000 7,554,563
2017 1,396,215,000 7,379,299
2016 1,387,790,000 7,205,328
2015 1,379,860,000 7,037,655
2014 1,371,860,000 6,876,385
2013 1,363,240,000 6,714,051
2012 1,354,190,000 6,551,080
2011 1,345,035,000 6,387,251
2010 1,337,705,000 6,222,714
2009 1,331,260,000 6,055,646
2008 1,324,655,000 5,894,722
2007 1,317,885,000 5,749,352
2006 1,311,020,000 5,624,466
2005 1,303,720,000 5,501,712
2004 1,296,075,000 5,355,717
2003 1,288,400,000 5,177,687
2002 1,280,400,000 4,971,435
2001 1,271,850,000 4,692,716
2000 1,262,645,000 4,423,611
1999 1,252,735,000 4,318,043
1998 1,241,935,000 4,295,785
1997 1,230,075,000 4,253,716
1996 1,217,550,000 4,199,210
1995 1,204,855,000 4,179,179
1994 1,191,835,000 4,173,105
1993 1,178,440,000 4,157,130
1992 1,164,970,000 4,166,366
1991 1,150,780,000 4,246,267
1990 1,135,185,000 4,196,828
1989 1,118,650,000 4,034,037
1988 1,101,630,000 3,934,517
1987 1,084,035,000 3,829,718
1986 1,066,790,000 3,728,380
1985 1,051,040,000 3,638,438
1984 1,036,825,000 3,558,758
1983 1,023,310,000 3,481,646
1982 1,008,630,000 3,408,183
1981 993,885,000 3,338,940
1980 981,235,000 3,272,089
1979 969,005,000 3,207,499
1978 956,165,000 3,145,517
1977 943,455,000 3,085,354
1976 930,685,000 3,028,820
1975 916,395,000 2,974,657
1974 900,350,000 2,920,459
1973 881,940,000 2,866,955
1972 862,030,000 2,814,388
1971 841,105,000 2,763,222
1970 818,315,000 2,712,286
1969 796,025,000 2,661,365
1968 774,510,000 2,611,532
1967 754,550,000 2,562,384
1966 735,400,000 2,514,638
1965 715,185,000 2,468,666
1964 698,355,000 2,424,390
1963 682,335,000 2,382,258
1962 665,770,000 2,342,242
1961 660,330,000 2,304,227
1960 667,070,000 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/china/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd 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) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Sierra Leone
2100 -1.65% -0.09%
2099 -1.64% -0.08%
2098 -1.63% -0.09%
2097 -1.61% -0.07%
2096 -1.6% -0.05%
2095 -1.59% 0.002%
2094 -1.59% -0.03%
2093 -1.58% 0.02%
2092 -1.57% 0.04%
2091 -1.57% 0.06%
2090 -1.57% 0.07%
2089 -1.57% 0.09%
2088 -1.57% 0.1%
2087 -1.56% 0.17%
2086 -1.56% 0.13%
2085 -1.55% 0.15%
2084 -1.53% 0.21%
2083 -1.51% 0.23%
2082 -1.5% 0.25%
2081 -1.47% 0.24%
2080 -1.45% 0.26%
2079 -1.42% 0.31%
2078 -1.4% 0.32%
2077 -1.38% 0.35%
2076 -1.36% 0.38%
2075 -1.34% 0.35%
2074 -1.33% 0.44%
2073 -1.31% 0.45%
2072 -1.3% 0.47%
2071 -1.3% 0.51%
2070 -1.29% 0.53%
2069 -1.29% 0.59%
2068 -1.29% 0.64%
2067 -1.28% 0.65%
2066 -1.28% 0.66%
2065 -1.27% 0.66%
2064 -1.26% 0.67%
2063 -1.25% 0.77%
2062 -1.24% 0.73%
2061 -1.22% 0.79%
2060 -1.19% 0.79%
2059 -1.17% 0.84%
2058 -1.13% 0.86%
2057 -1.09% 0.9%
2056 -1.05% 0.95%
2055 -1.01% 0.93%
2054 -0.96% 1.01%
2053 -0.92% 1.06%
2052 -0.87% 1.12%
2051 -0.82% 1.12%
2050 -0.77% 1.11%
2049 -0.73% 1.19%
2048 -0.69% 1.16%
2047 -0.65% 1.26%
2046 -0.62% 1.28%
2045 -0.59% 1.37%
2044 -0.56% 1.35%
2043 -0.54% 1.37%
2042 -0.52% 1.44%
2041 -0.5% 1.5%
2040 -0.48% 1.5%
2039 -0.46% 1.47%
2038 -0.44% 1.54%
2037 -0.42% 1.59%
2036 -0.4% 1.65%
2035 -0.39% 1.65%
2034 -0.37% 1.69%
2033 -0.35% 1.78%
2032 -0.33% 1.81%
2031 -0.3% 1.81%
2030 -0.29% 1.85%
2029 -0.26% 1.83%
2028 -0.24% 1.97%
2027 -0.22% 1.98%
2026 -0.23% 2.03%
2025 -0.22% 2.08%
2024 -0.12% 2.15%
2023 -0.1% 2.22%
2022 -0.01% 2.25%
2021 0.09% 2.3%
2020 0.24% 2.34%
2019 0.36% 2.35%
2018 0.47% 2.38%
2017 0.61% 2.41%
2016 0.57% 2.38%
2015 0.58% 2.35%
2014 0.63% 2.42%
2013 0.67% 2.49%
2012 0.68% 2.56%
2011 0.55% 2.64%
2010 0.48% 2.76%
2009 0.5% 2.73%
2008 0.51% 2.53%
2007 0.52% 2.22%
2006 0.56% 2.23%
2005 0.59% 2.73%
2004 0.6% 3.44%
2003 0.62% 4.15%
2002 0.67% 5.94%
2001 0.73% 6.08%
2000 0.79% 2.44%
1999 0.87% 0.52%
1998 0.96% 0.99%
1997 1.03% 1.3%
1996 1.05% 0.48%
1995 1.09% 0.15%
1994 1.14% 0.38%
1993 1.16% -0.22%
1992 1.23% -1.88%
1991 1.37% 1.18%
1990 1.48% 4.04%
1989 1.54% 2.53%
1988 1.62% 2.74%
1987 1.62% 2.72%
1986 1.5% 2.47%
1985 1.37% 2.24%
1984 1.32% 2.21%
1983 1.46% 2.16%
1982 1.48% 2.07%
1981 1.29% 2.04%
1980 1.26% 2.01%
1979 1.34% 1.97%
1978 1.35% 1.95%
1977 1.37% 1.87%
1976 1.56% 1.82%
1975 1.78% 1.86%
1974 2.09% 1.87%
1973 2.31% 1.87%
1972 2.49% 1.85%
1971 2.78% 1.88%
1970 2.8% 1.91%
1969 2.78% 1.91%
1968 2.65% 1.92%
1967 2.6% 1.9%
1966 2.83% 1.86%
1965 2.41% 1.83%
1964 2.35% 1.77%
1963 2.49% 1.71%
1962 0.82% 1.65%
1961 -1.01% 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/china/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

China Sierra Leone
Current population
1402578808
9049533
Population rank 2/197 101/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.11%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +497
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -11,309
Net migration rank 189/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -11,309
2024 - -318,992 - -11,000
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 188,788 -4,000
2022 -847,305 -293,846 186,625 -4,000
2021 480,203 -379,749 183,326 -1,544
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 181,015 1,292
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 181,068 -2,238
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 178,772 -2,741
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 173,259 1,234
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 168,784 4,657
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 162,275 -356
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 160,137 485
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 161,265 2,773
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 160,915 988
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 158,858 6,895
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 155,338 7,983
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 152,669 18,145
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 149,855 1,182
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 145,740 -6,042
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 144,127 -34,052
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 137,234 -1,805
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 132,661 23,897
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 130,312 69,185
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 126,429 86,578
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 116,647 227,791
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 110,754 83,013
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 102,295 -84,926
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 103,906 -76,766
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 105,433 -48,437
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 104,140 -52,110
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 100,885 -112,857
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 101,486 -77,371
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 103,317 -95,476
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 103,251 -129,565
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 105,477 -238,965
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 100,778 131,587
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 98,298 -5,079
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 96,344 9,470
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 94,235 9,558
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 90,902 7,992
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 88,869 -7,873
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 87,072 -8,708
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 84,628 -8,783
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 82,457 -11,379
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 80,111 -12,699
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 77,932 -11,641
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 75,992 -13,095
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 74,130 -13,073
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 71,663 -12,399
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 69,506 -15,686
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 67,560 -13,058
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 65,357 -11,473
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 62,443 -9,322
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 60,279 -8,267
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 58,484 -8,162
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 56,513 -4,957
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 54,768 -4,485
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 53,126 -3,743
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 51,734 -2,819
1966 19,282,187 4,165 49,486 -2,911
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 47,223 -1,851
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 45,487 -2,308
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 43,569 -2,480
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 41,603 -2,658
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 40,022 -2,947
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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/china/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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