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Population in the Congo compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.35 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Congo vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Sierra Leone
2100 20,197,393 16,111,324
2099 20,056,338 16,126,181
2098 19,909,990 16,139,280
2097 19,763,169 16,154,153
2096 19,613,556 16,164,923
2095 19,462,505 16,173,557
2094 19,309,823 16,173,155
2093 19,154,254 16,177,864
2092 18,993,517 16,175,032
2091 18,831,137 16,168,153
2090 18,666,035 16,158,415
2089 18,500,705 16,146,773
2088 18,328,408 16,133,018
2087 18,156,542 16,116,823
2086 17,982,556 16,089,780
2085 17,810,599 16,068,438
2084 17,634,115 16,044,782
2083 17,455,922 16,011,134
2082 17,273,447 15,975,073
2081 17,095,916 15,935,071
2080 16,913,187 15,896,846
2079 16,731,545 15,854,898
2078 16,545,390 15,805,607
2077 16,360,458 15,754,551
2076 16,175,508 15,699,439
2075 15,984,378 15,639,458
2074 15,794,071 15,584,377
2073 15,599,735 15,516,736
2072 15,404,494 15,446,543
2071 15,207,921 15,374,790
2070 15,011,471 15,297,449
2069 14,810,543 15,216,666
2068 14,612,051 15,128,048
2067 14,415,033 15,032,144
2066 14,213,222 14,935,222
2065 14,012,829 14,837,697
2064 13,813,071 14,740,749
2063 13,611,733 14,642,031
2062 13,407,155 14,529,557
2061 13,206,406 14,423,861
2060 13,006,970 14,311,215
2059 12,808,144 14,198,706
2058 12,611,185 14,080,827
2057 12,415,316 13,960,869
2056 12,219,298 13,836,132
2055 12,024,601 13,706,113
2054 11,826,644 13,579,802
2053 11,629,783 13,444,465
2052 11,433,645 13,303,409
2051 11,236,927 13,156,370
2050 11,041,020 13,010,109
2049 10,846,652 12,867,021
2048 10,651,879 12,716,015
2047 10,455,019 12,570,250
2046 10,260,138 12,414,307
2045 10,065,444 12,257,874
2044 9,872,742 12,092,075
2043 9,677,498 11,931,531
2042 9,483,953 11,770,467
2041 9,288,673 11,602,993
2040 9,097,986 11,431,337
2039 8,908,556 11,262,807
2038 8,720,599 11,100,099
2037 8,534,256 10,931,629
2036 8,350,011 10,760,758
2035 8,167,940 10,585,702
2034 7,986,915 10,413,826
2033 7,806,956 10,241,196
2032 7,629,621 10,062,575
2031 7,454,630 9,883,708
2030 7,285,238 9,708,038
2029 7,119,031 9,532,000
2028 6,956,345 9,360,873
2027 6,795,830 9,179,702
2026 6,639,560 9,001,269
2025 6,485,440 8,822,114
2024 6,332,961 8,642,022
2023 6,182,885 8,460,512
2022 6,035,104 8,276,807
2021 5,892,183 8,094,602
2020 5,752,791 7,912,558
2019 5,616,661 7,731,991
2018 5,483,118 7,554,563
2017 5,351,011 7,379,299
2016 5,222,536 7,205,328
2015 5,097,581 7,037,655
2014 4,975,880 6,876,385
2013 4,857,099 6,714,051
2012 4,740,450 6,551,080
2011 4,609,724 6,387,251
2010 4,462,290 6,222,714
2009 4,281,219 6,055,646
2008 4,113,517 5,894,722
2007 3,980,430 5,749,352
2006 3,837,409 5,624,466
2005 3,696,393 5,501,712
2004 3,565,554 5,355,717
2003 3,445,753 5,177,687
2002 3,350,771 4,971,435
2001 3,272,537 4,692,716
2000 3,151,345 4,423,611
1999 3,032,874 4,318,043
1998 2,952,061 4,295,785
1997 2,887,862 4,253,716
1996 2,826,785 4,199,210
1995 2,749,461 4,179,179
1994 2,673,144 4,173,105
1993 2,595,124 4,157,130
1992 2,519,465 4,166,366
1991 2,449,229 4,246,267
1990 2,380,560 4,196,828
1989 2,313,558 4,034,037
1988 2,247,653 3,934,517
1987 2,183,473 3,829,718
1986 2,120,602 3,728,380
1985 2,059,311 3,638,438
1984 1,999,528 3,558,758
1983 1,950,321 3,481,646
1982 1,910,430 3,408,183
1981 1,869,759 3,338,940
1980 1,828,985 3,272,089
1979 1,788,524 3,207,499
1978 1,748,089 3,145,517
1977 1,707,568 3,085,354
1976 1,667,225 3,028,820
1975 1,627,032 2,974,657
1974 1,582,301 2,920,459
1973 1,533,680 2,866,955
1972 1,486,468 2,814,388
1971 1,441,039 2,763,222
1970 1,397,638 2,712,286
1969 1,356,182 2,661,365
1968 1,316,519 2,611,532
1967 1,278,691 2,562,384
1966 1,242,534 2,514,638
1965 1,207,880 2,468,666
1964 1,174,816 2,424,390
1963 1,143,263 2,382,258
1962 1,113,175 2,342,242
1961 1,084,389 2,304,227
1960 1,056,732 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/congo/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th 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) the Congo's population will grow by 65.2% to 11,041,020 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Sierra Leone
2100 0.7% -0.09%
2099 0.74% -0.08%
2098 0.74% -0.09%
2097 0.76% -0.07%
2096 0.78% -0.05%
2095 0.79% 0.002%
2094 0.81% -0.03%
2093 0.85% 0.02%
2092 0.86% 0.04%
2091 0.88% 0.06%
2090 0.89% 0.07%
2089 0.94% 0.09%
2088 0.95% 0.1%
2087 0.97% 0.17%
2086 0.97% 0.13%
2085 1% 0.15%
2084 1.02% 0.21%
2083 1.06% 0.23%
2082 1.04% 0.25%
2081 1.08% 0.24%
2080 1.09% 0.26%
2079 1.13% 0.31%
2078 1.13% 0.32%
2077 1.14% 0.35%
2076 1.2% 0.38%
2075 1.2% 0.35%
2074 1.25% 0.44%
2073 1.27% 0.45%
2072 1.29% 0.47%
2071 1.31% 0.51%
2070 1.36% 0.53%
2069 1.36% 0.59%
2068 1.37% 0.64%
2067 1.42% 0.65%
2066 1.43% 0.66%
2065 1.45% 0.66%
2064 1.48% 0.67%
2063 1.53% 0.77%
2062 1.52% 0.73%
2061 1.53% 0.79%
2060 1.55% 0.79%
2059 1.56% 0.84%
2058 1.58% 0.86%
2057 1.6% 0.9%
2056 1.62% 0.95%
2055 1.67% 0.93%
2054 1.69% 1.01%
2053 1.72% 1.06%
2052 1.75% 1.12%
2051 1.77% 1.12%
2050 1.79% 1.11%
2049 1.83% 1.19%
2048 1.88% 1.16%
2047 1.9% 1.26%
2046 1.93% 1.28%
2045 1.95% 1.37%
2044 2.02% 1.35%
2043 2.04% 1.37%
2042 2.1% 1.44%
2041 2.1% 1.5%
2040 2.13% 1.5%
2039 2.16% 1.47%
2038 2.18% 1.54%
2037 2.21% 1.59%
2036 2.23% 1.65%
2035 2.27% 1.65%
2034 2.31% 1.69%
2033 2.32% 1.78%
2032 2.35% 1.81%
2031 2.33% 1.81%
2030 2.33% 1.85%
2029 2.34% 1.83%
2028 2.36% 1.97%
2027 2.35% 1.98%
2026 2.38% 2.03%
2025 2.41% 2.08%
2024 2.43% 2.15%
2023 2.45% 2.22%
2022 2.43% 2.25%
2021 2.42% 2.3%
2020 2.42% 2.34%
2019 2.44% 2.35%
2018 2.47% 2.38%
2017 2.46% 2.41%
2016 2.45% 2.38%
2015 2.45% 2.35%
2014 2.45% 2.42%
2013 2.46% 2.49%
2012 2.84% 2.56%
2011 3.3% 2.64%
2010 4.23% 2.76%
2009 4.08% 2.73%
2008 3.34% 2.53%
2007 3.73% 2.22%
2006 3.81% 2.23%
2005 3.67% 2.73%
2004 3.48% 3.44%
2003 2.83% 4.15%
2002 2.39% 5.94%
2001 3.85% 6.08%
2000 3.91% 2.44%
1999 2.74% 0.52%
1998 2.22% 0.99%
1997 2.16% 1.3%
1996 2.81% 0.48%
1995 2.85% 0.15%
1994 3.01% 0.38%
1993 3% -0.22%
1992 2.87% -1.88%
1991 2.88% 1.18%
1990 2.9% 4.04%
1989 2.93% 2.53%
1988 2.94% 2.74%
1987 2.96% 2.72%
1986 2.98% 2.47%
1985 2.99% 2.24%
1984 2.52% 2.21%
1983 2.09% 2.16%
1982 2.18% 2.07%
1981 2.23% 2.04%
1980 2.26% 2.01%
1979 2.31% 1.97%
1978 2.37% 1.95%
1977 2.42% 1.87%
1976 2.47% 1.82%
1975 2.83% 1.86%
1974 3.17% 1.87%
1973 3.18% 1.87%
1972 3.15% 1.85%
1971 3.11% 1.88%
1970 3.06% 1.91%
1969 3.01% 1.91%
1968 2.96% 1.92%
1967 2.91% 1.9%
1966 2.87% 1.86%
1965 2.81% 1.83%
1964 2.76% 1.77%
1963 2.7% 1.71%
1962 2.65% 1.65%
1961 2.62% 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/congo/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Congo Sierra Leone
Current population
6681829
9049533
Population rank 109/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.11%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +497
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 47/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 -11,309
Net migration rank 108/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -11,309
2024 - -2,491 - -11,000
2023 150,486 -995 188,788 -4,000
2022 147,076 -995 186,625 -4,000
2021 144,241 -4,476 183,326 -1,544
2020 143,492 -4,472 181,015 1,292
2019 139,513 -6,268 181,068 -2,238
2018 142,704 -8,856 178,772 -2,741
2017 141,973 -11,601 173,259 1,234
2016 141,358 -14,783 168,784 4,657
2015 141,539 -18,207 162,275 -356
2014 141,674 -21,598 160,137 485
2013 142,080 -24,605 161,265 2,773
2012 142,464 -26,643 160,915 988
2011 140,371 5,262 158,858 6,895
2010 136,908 12,318 155,338 7,983
2009 126,904 86,014 152,669 18,145
2008 120,711 1,774 149,855 1,182
2007 112,459 31,239 145,740 -6,042
2006 106,876 35,475 144,127 -34,052
2005 101,344 38,337 137,234 -1,805
2004 96,577 25,412 132,661 23,897
2003 91,326 26,280 130,312 69,185
2002 88,497 -16,140 126,429 86,578
2001 84,876 -764 116,647 227,791
2000 78,491 79,780 110,754 83,013
1999 76,204 2,470 102,295 -84,926
1998 72,450 10,500 103,906 -76,766
1997 66,149 -20,704 105,433 -48,437
1996 75,628 1,085 104,140 -52,110
1995 74,189 3,747 100,885 -112,857
1994 72,857 1,850 101,486 -77,371
1993 71,119 10,218 103,317 -95,476
1992 69,973 0 103,251 -129,565
1991 68,534 1,966 105,477 -238,965
1990 67,241 -395 100,778 131,587
1989 65,944 1,214 98,298 -5,079
1988 64,629 22 96,344 9,470
1987 63,183 525 94,235 9,558
1986 61,669 367 90,902 7,992
1985 60,359 182 88,869 -7,873
1984 59,028 0 87,072 -8,708
1983 58,120 -18,720 84,628 -8,783
1982 57,036 -16,664 82,457 -11,379
1981 56,603 -15,630 80,111 -12,699
1980 55,550 -14,972 77,932 -11,641
1979 54,723 -14,378 75,992 -13,095
1978 53,885 -13,356 74,130 -13,073
1977 53,179 -12,673 71,663 -12,399
1976 52,148 -11,971 69,506 -15,686
1975 51,155 -10,944 67,560 -13,058
1974 49,563 -312 65,357 -11,473
1973 48,017 -22 62,443 -9,322
1972 46,427 0 60,279 -8,267
1971 44,431 0 58,484 -8,162
1970 42,374 0 56,513 -4,957
1969 40,532 0 54,768 -4,485
1968 38,786 0 53,126 -3,743
1967 36,866 0 51,734 -2,819
1966 35,452 0 49,486 -2,911
1965 33,865 0 47,223 -1,851
1964 32,270 0 45,487 -2,308
1963 30,832 0 43,569 -2,480
1962 29,342 0 41,603 -2,658
1961 28,220 0 40,022 -2,947
1960 27,094 0 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in the Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 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, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
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/congo/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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