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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 2.45 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Eritrea vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Sierra Leone
2100 8,514,681 16,111,324
2099 8,489,924 16,126,181
2098 8,466,983 16,139,280
2097 8,444,468 16,154,153
2096 8,422,323 16,164,923
2095 8,396,086 16,173,557
2094 8,370,114 16,173,155
2093 8,344,405 16,177,864
2092 8,309,034 16,175,032
2091 8,278,860 16,168,153
2090 8,243,905 16,158,415
2089 8,209,883 16,146,773
2088 8,172,664 16,133,018
2087 8,136,016 16,116,823
2086 8,093,065 16,089,780
2085 8,046,814 16,068,438
2084 7,999,706 16,044,782
2083 7,956,385 16,011,134
2082 7,911,764 15,975,073
2081 7,871,753 15,935,071
2080 7,815,766 15,896,846
2079 7,765,677 15,854,898
2078 7,711,886 15,805,607
2077 7,656,307 15,754,551
2076 7,600,951 15,699,439
2075 7,538,912 15,639,458
2074 7,484,322 15,584,377
2073 7,420,571 15,516,736
2072 7,358,500 15,446,543
2071 7,296,109 15,374,790
2070 7,231,198 15,297,449
2069 7,164,883 15,216,666
2068 7,094,530 15,128,048
2067 7,026,000 15,032,144
2066 6,952,514 14,935,222
2065 6,884,323 14,837,697
2064 6,814,893 14,740,749
2063 6,733,263 14,642,031
2062 6,659,531 14,529,557
2061 6,580,923 14,423,861
2060 6,500,944 14,311,215
2059 6,422,305 14,198,706
2058 6,343,070 14,080,827
2057 6,265,450 13,960,869
2056 6,194,123 13,836,132
2055 6,114,099 13,706,113
2054 6,039,801 13,579,802
2053 5,957,339 13,444,465
2052 5,871,954 13,303,409
2051 5,791,096 13,156,370
2050 5,711,061 13,010,109
2049 5,632,165 12,867,021
2048 5,549,890 12,716,015
2047 5,468,518 12,570,250
2046 5,387,267 12,414,307
2045 5,300,511 12,257,874
2044 5,215,831 12,092,075
2043 5,131,686 11,931,531
2042 5,044,262 11,770,467
2041 4,960,422 11,602,993
2040 4,870,981 11,431,337
2039 4,782,316 11,262,807
2038 4,693,015 11,100,099
2037 4,599,752 10,931,629
2036 4,506,879 10,760,758
2035 4,420,367 10,585,702
2034 4,332,828 10,413,826
2033 4,248,272 10,241,196
2032 4,165,241 10,062,575
2031 4,083,762 9,883,708
2030 3,998,903 9,708,038
2029 3,917,775 9,532,000
2028 3,836,693 9,360,873
2027 3,756,696 9,179,702
2026 3,679,782 9,001,269
2025 3,603,902 8,822,114
2024 3,535,603 8,642,022
2023 3,470,390 8,460,512
2022 3,409,447 8,276,807
2021 3,350,183 8,094,602
2020 3,291,271 7,912,558
2019 3,240,194 7,731,991
2018 3,192,760 7,554,563
2017 3,150,347 7,379,299
2016 3,124,698 7,205,328
2015 3,105,546 7,037,655
2014 3,095,173 6,876,385
2013 3,074,360 6,714,051
2012 3,036,988 6,551,080
2011 2,998,485 6,387,251
2010 2,945,186 6,222,714
2009 2,887,885 6,055,646
2008 2,816,327 5,894,722
2007 2,743,222 5,749,352
2006 2,703,502 5,624,466
2005 2,661,215 5,501,712
2004 2,598,284 5,355,717
2003 2,493,903 5,177,687
2002 2,392,978 4,971,435
2001 2,312,079 4,692,716
2000 2,247,031 4,423,611
1999 2,212,780 4,318,043
1998 2,180,419 4,295,785
1997 2,152,135 4,253,716
1996 2,128,464 4,199,210
1995 2,025,267 4,179,179
1994 1,913,915 4,173,105
1993 1,856,006 4,157,130
1992 1,798,748 4,166,366
1991 1,919,571 4,246,267
1990 2,032,737 4,196,828
1989 1,987,017 4,034,037
1988 1,938,255 3,934,517
1987 1,888,669 3,829,718
1986 1,845,164 3,728,380
1985 1,807,816 3,638,438
1984 1,771,730 3,558,758
1983 1,736,160 3,481,646
1982 1,695,461 3,408,183
1981 1,649,939 3,338,940
1980 1,605,797 3,272,089
1979 1,563,332 3,207,499
1978 1,522,378 3,145,517
1977 1,482,565 3,085,354
1976 1,443,807 3,028,820
1975 1,408,210 2,974,657
1974 1,375,688 2,920,459
1973 1,342,669 2,866,955
1972 1,309,235 2,814,388
1971 1,276,154 2,763,222
1970 1,243,453 2,712,286
1969 1,212,005 2,661,365
1968 1,181,737 2,611,532
1967 1,152,339 2,562,384
1966 1,124,957 2,514,638
1965 1,098,335 2,468,666
1964 1,071,287 2,424,390
1963 1,045,092 2,382,258
1962 1,019,788 2,342,242
1961 995,573 2,304,227
1960 972,547 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/eritrea/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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) Eritrea's population will grow by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Sierra Leone
2100 0.29% -0.09%
2099 0.27% -0.08%
2098 0.27% -0.09%
2097 0.26% -0.07%
2096 0.31% -0.05%
2095 0.31% 0.002%
2094 0.31% -0.03%
2093 0.43% 0.02%
2092 0.36% 0.04%
2091 0.42% 0.06%
2090 0.41% 0.07%
2089 0.46% 0.09%
2088 0.45% 0.1%
2087 0.53% 0.17%
2086 0.57% 0.13%
2085 0.59% 0.15%
2084 0.54% 0.21%
2083 0.56% 0.23%
2082 0.51% 0.25%
2081 0.72% 0.24%
2080 0.65% 0.26%
2079 0.7% 0.31%
2078 0.73% 0.32%
2077 0.73% 0.35%
2076 0.82% 0.38%
2075 0.73% 0.35%
2074 0.86% 0.44%
2073 0.84% 0.45%
2072 0.86% 0.47%
2071 0.9% 0.51%
2070 0.93% 0.53%
2069 0.99% 0.59%
2068 0.98% 0.64%
2067 1.06% 0.65%
2066 0.99% 0.66%
2065 1.02% 0.66%
2064 1.21% 0.67%
2063 1.11% 0.77%
2062 1.19% 0.73%
2061 1.23% 0.79%
2060 1.22% 0.79%
2059 1.25% 0.84%
2058 1.24% 0.86%
2057 1.15% 0.9%
2056 1.31% 0.95%
2055 1.23% 0.93%
2054 1.38% 1.01%
2053 1.45% 1.06%
2052 1.4% 1.12%
2051 1.4% 1.12%
2050 1.4% 1.11%
2049 1.48% 1.19%
2048 1.49% 1.16%
2047 1.51% 1.26%
2046 1.64% 1.28%
2045 1.62% 1.37%
2044 1.64% 1.35%
2043 1.73% 1.37%
2042 1.69% 1.44%
2041 1.84% 1.5%
2040 1.85% 1.5%
2039 1.9% 1.47%
2038 2.03% 1.54%
2037 2.06% 1.59%
2036 1.96% 1.65%
2035 2.02% 1.65%
2034 1.99% 1.69%
2033 1.99% 1.78%
2032 2% 1.81%
2031 2.12% 1.81%
2030 2.07% 1.85%
2029 2.11% 1.83%
2028 2.13% 1.97%
2027 2.09% 1.98%
2026 2.11% 2.03%
2025 1.93% 2.08%
2024 1.88% 2.15%
2023 1.79% 2.22%
2022 1.77% 2.25%
2021 1.79% 2.3%
2020 1.58% 2.34%
2019 1.49% 2.35%
2018 1.35% 2.38%
2017 0.82% 2.41%
2016 0.62% 2.38%
2015 0.34% 2.35%
2014 0.68% 2.42%
2013 1.23% 2.49%
2012 1.28% 2.56%
2011 1.81% 2.64%
2010 1.98% 2.76%
2009 2.54% 2.73%
2008 2.66% 2.53%
2007 1.47% 2.22%
2006 1.59% 2.23%
2005 2.42% 2.73%
2004 4.19% 3.44%
2003 4.22% 4.15%
2002 3.5% 5.94%
2001 2.89% 6.08%
2000 1.55% 2.44%
1999 1.48% 0.52%
1998 1.31% 0.99%
1997 1.11% 1.3%
1996 5.1% 0.48%
1995 5.82% 0.15%
1994 3.12% 0.38%
1993 3.18% -0.22%
1992 -6.29% -1.88%
1991 -5.57% 1.18%
1990 2.3% 4.04%
1989 2.52% 2.53%
1988 2.63% 2.74%
1987 2.36% 2.72%
1986 2.07% 2.47%
1985 2.04% 2.24%
1984 2.05% 2.21%
1983 2.4% 2.16%
1982 2.76% 2.07%
1981 2.75% 2.04%
1980 2.72% 2.01%
1979 2.69% 1.97%
1978 2.69% 1.95%
1977 2.68% 1.87%
1976 2.53% 1.82%
1975 2.36% 1.86%
1974 2.46% 1.87%
1973 2.55% 1.87%
1972 2.59% 1.85%
1971 2.63% 1.88%
1970 2.59% 1.91%
1969 2.56% 1.91%
1968 2.55% 1.92%
1967 2.43% 1.9%
1966 2.42% 1.86%
1965 2.52% 1.83%
1964 2.51% 1.77%
1963 2.48% 1.71%
1962 2.43% 1.65%
1961 2.37% 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/eritrea/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Sierra Leone
Current population
3700586
9049533
Population rank 130/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.11%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +497
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 -11,309
Net migration rank 122/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -11,309
2024 - -12,696 - -11,000
2023 78,073 -15,284 188,788 -4,000
2022 76,221 -17,134 186,625 -4,000
2021 74,394 -14,966 183,326 -1,544
2020 73,362 -14,967 181,015 1,292
2019 73,572 -29,818 181,068 -2,238
2018 72,511 -21,403 178,772 -2,741
2017 72,291 -38,579 173,259 1,234
2016 73,002 -55,431 168,784 4,657
2015 73,682 -52,965 162,275 -356
2014 75,729 -75,696 160,137 485
2013 75,562 -33,974 161,265 2,773
2012 76,416 -43,269 160,915 988
2011 76,806 -32,949 158,858 6,895
2010 76,098 -13,361 155,338 7,983
2009 76,206 -24,348 152,669 18,145
2008 73,391 17,855 149,855 1,182
2007 73,101 -18,131 145,740 -6,042
2006 74,470 -49,998 144,127 -34,052
2005 72,930 -12,835 137,234 -1,805
2004 72,147 -6,374 132,661 23,897
2003 66,291 76,703 130,312 69,185
2002 65,436 -6,574 126,429 86,578
2001 61,180 41,760 116,647 227,791
2000 60,274 -33,133 110,754 83,013
1999 45,120 -3,769 102,295 -84,926
1998 55,332 -31,951 103,906 -76,766
1997 63,953 -30,768 105,433 -48,437
1996 66,557 -52,421 104,140 -52,110
1995 56,157 136,105 100,885 -112,857
1994 56,288 -25,841 101,486 -77,371
1993 51,679 33,688 103,317 -95,476
1992 51,443 -22,293 103,251 -129,565
1991 57,741 -328,546 105,477 -238,965
1990 56,903 -12,425 100,778 131,587
1989 54,299 -7,330 98,298 -5,079
1988 54,163 -3,612 96,344 9,470
1987 52,229 -3,613 94,235 9,558
1986 39,470 -1,073 90,902 7,992
1985 37,362 -1,073 88,869 -7,873
1984 35,101 772 87,072 -8,708
1983 33,420 1,853 84,628 -8,783
1982 44,146 1,985 82,457 -11,379
1981 42,924 1,985 80,111 -12,699
1980 41,392 1,985 77,932 -11,641
1979 39,577 1,985 75,992 -13,095
1978 38,353 1,985 74,130 -13,073
1977 37,295 1,985 71,663 -12,399
1976 36,250 1,985 69,506 -15,686
1975 30,971 1,985 67,560 -13,058
1974 30,111 1,985 65,357 -11,473
1973 31,969 1,985 62,443 -9,322
1972 30,951 1,953 60,279 -8,267
1971 31,490 1,758 58,484 -8,162
1970 30,686 1,480 56,513 -4,957
1969 29,535 1,199 54,768 -4,485
1968 28,777 1,013 53,126 -3,743
1967 27,992 1,004 51,734 -2,819
1966 24,713 1,063 49,486 -2,911
1965 26,285 1,188 47,223 -1,851
1964 25,327 1,300 45,487 -2,308
1963 24,393 1,368 43,569 -2,480
1962 23,478 1,364 41,603 -2,658
1961 22,351 1,235 40,022 -2,947
1960 21,424 1,045 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.8% of the population change in Eritrea is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 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, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
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/eritrea/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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