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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,242,822 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,273,390 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 7.11 times bigger than Eswatini's.
  • Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.87% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.27M (17.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Eswatini vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eswatini Sierra Leone
2100 1,352,404 16,111,324
2099 1,361,498 16,126,181
2098 1,369,861 16,139,280
2097 1,378,017 16,154,153
2096 1,386,191 16,164,923
2095 1,394,405 16,173,557
2094 1,402,538 16,173,155
2093 1,410,423 16,177,864
2092 1,418,137 16,175,032
2091 1,426,097 16,168,153
2090 1,433,623 16,158,415
2089 1,441,192 16,146,773
2088 1,448,332 16,133,018
2087 1,455,333 16,116,823
2086 1,462,398 16,089,780
2085 1,469,660 16,068,438
2084 1,476,745 16,044,782
2083 1,483,271 16,011,134
2082 1,489,551 15,975,073
2081 1,494,969 15,935,071
2080 1,500,315 15,896,846
2079 1,505,309 15,854,898
2078 1,509,779 15,805,607
2077 1,514,574 15,754,551
2076 1,519,452 15,699,439
2075 1,523,845 15,639,458
2074 1,528,267 15,584,377
2073 1,531,967 15,516,736
2072 1,535,206 15,446,543
2071 1,538,333 15,374,790
2070 1,540,715 15,297,449
2069 1,543,234 15,216,666
2068 1,545,288 15,128,048
2067 1,547,029 15,032,144
2066 1,547,862 14,935,222
2065 1,548,678 14,837,697
2064 1,549,121 14,740,749
2063 1,549,274 14,642,031
2062 1,548,873 14,529,557
2061 1,548,072 14,423,861
2060 1,547,285 14,311,215
2059 1,545,426 14,198,706
2058 1,542,799 14,080,827
2057 1,540,085 13,960,869
2056 1,537,270 13,836,132
2055 1,534,161 13,706,113
2054 1,530,631 13,579,802
2053 1,526,357 13,444,465
2052 1,521,506 13,303,409
2051 1,515,982 13,156,370
2050 1,510,547 13,010,109
2049 1,504,126 12,867,021
2048 1,497,656 12,716,015
2047 1,491,001 12,570,250
2046 1,483,817 12,414,307
2045 1,475,974 12,257,874
2044 1,468,200 12,092,075
2043 1,460,050 11,931,531
2042 1,451,433 11,770,467
2041 1,441,822 11,602,993
2040 1,432,811 11,431,337
2039 1,423,063 11,262,807
2038 1,412,806 11,100,099
2037 1,402,845 10,931,629
2036 1,392,117 10,760,758
2035 1,381,258 10,585,702
2034 1,369,883 10,413,826
2033 1,357,906 10,241,196
2032 1,346,063 10,062,575
2031 1,334,330 9,883,708
2030 1,321,430 9,708,038
2029 1,309,060 9,532,000
2028 1,296,535 9,360,873
2027 1,283,434 9,179,702
2026 1,269,667 9,001,269
2025 1,255,921 8,822,114
2024 1,242,822 8,642,022
2023 1,230,506 8,460,512
2022 1,218,917 8,276,807
2021 1,206,593 8,094,602
2020 1,192,729 7,912,558
2019 1,179,874 7,731,991
2018 1,168,929 7,554,563
2017 1,158,195 7,379,299
2016 1,149,507 7,205,328
2015 1,142,813 7,037,655
2014 1,136,299 6,876,385
2013 1,129,990 6,714,051
2012 1,123,863 6,551,080
2011 1,117,833 6,387,251
2010 1,111,650 6,222,714
2009 1,105,153 6,055,646
2008 1,098,091 5,894,722
2007 1,090,705 5,749,352
2006 1,084,436 5,624,466
2005 1,079,022 5,501,712
2004 1,073,159 5,355,717
2003 1,066,700 5,177,687
2002 1,059,441 4,971,435
2001 1,051,064 4,692,716
2000 1,041,414 4,423,611
1999 1,030,782 4,318,043
1998 1,019,653 4,295,785
1997 1,006,635 4,253,716
1996 989,841 4,199,210
1995 970,433 4,179,179
1994 971,212 4,173,105
1993 971,318 4,157,130
1992 943,416 4,166,366
1991 908,189 4,246,267
1990 872,428 4,196,828
1989 837,800 4,034,037
1988 799,798 3,934,517
1987 763,811 3,829,718
1986 734,732 3,728,380
1985 706,196 3,638,438
1984 680,783 3,558,758
1983 658,957 3,481,646
1982 637,652 3,408,183
1981 616,808 3,338,940
1980 596,644 3,272,089
1979 577,199 3,207,499
1978 558,446 3,145,517
1977 540,348 3,085,354
1976 523,330 3,028,820
1975 507,673 2,974,657
1974 492,988 2,920,459
1973 479,038 2,866,955
1972 465,788 2,814,388
1971 453,183 2,763,222
1970 441,216 2,712,286
1969 429,875 2,661,365
1968 419,147 2,611,532
1967 409,031 2,562,384
1966 398,766 2,514,638
1965 388,336 2,468,666
1964 378,656 2,424,390
1963 369,759 2,382,258
1962 361,365 2,342,242
1961 353,264 2,304,227
1960 345,337 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/eswatini/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 123,883 people (a 10.8% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th 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) Eswatini's population will grow by 18.6% to 1,510,547 people with a rank change from 156th to 154th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eswatini Sierra Leone
2100 -0.67% -0.09%
2099 -0.61% -0.08%
2098 -0.59% -0.09%
2097 -0.59% -0.07%
2096 -0.59% -0.05%
2095 -0.58% 0.002%
2094 -0.56% -0.03%
2093 -0.54% 0.02%
2092 -0.56% 0.04%
2091 -0.52% 0.06%
2090 -0.53% 0.07%
2089 -0.49% 0.09%
2088 -0.48% 0.1%
2087 -0.48% 0.17%
2086 -0.49% 0.13%
2085 -0.48% 0.15%
2084 -0.44% 0.21%
2083 -0.42% 0.23%
2082 -0.36% 0.25%
2081 -0.36% 0.24%
2080 -0.33% 0.26%
2079 -0.3% 0.31%
2078 -0.32% 0.32%
2077 -0.32% 0.35%
2076 -0.29% 0.38%
2075 -0.29% 0.35%
2074 -0.24% 0.44%
2073 -0.21% 0.45%
2072 -0.2% 0.47%
2071 -0.15% 0.51%
2070 -0.16% 0.53%
2069 -0.13% 0.59%
2068 -0.11% 0.64%
2067 -0.05% 0.65%
2066 -0.05% 0.66%
2065 -0.03% 0.66%
2064 -0.01% 0.67%
2063 0.03% 0.77%
2062 0.05% 0.73%
2061 0.05% 0.79%
2060 0.12% 0.79%
2059 0.17% 0.84%
2058 0.18% 0.86%
2057 0.18% 0.9%
2056 0.2% 0.95%
2055 0.23% 0.93%
2054 0.28% 1.01%
2053 0.32% 1.06%
2052 0.36% 1.12%
2051 0.36% 1.12%
2050 0.43% 1.11%
2049 0.43% 1.19%
2048 0.45% 1.16%
2047 0.48% 1.26%
2046 0.53% 1.28%
2045 0.53% 1.37%
2044 0.56% 1.35%
2043 0.59% 1.37%
2042 0.67% 1.44%
2041 0.63% 1.5%
2040 0.68% 1.5%
2039 0.73% 1.47%
2038 0.71% 1.54%
2037 0.77% 1.59%
2036 0.79% 1.65%
2035 0.83% 1.65%
2034 0.88% 1.69%
2033 0.88% 1.78%
2032 0.88% 1.81%
2031 0.98% 1.81%
2030 0.94% 1.85%
2029 0.97% 1.83%
2028 1.02% 1.97%
2027 1.08% 1.98%
2026 1.09% 2.03%
2025 1.05% 2.08%
2024 1% 2.15%
2023 0.95% 2.22%
2022 1.02% 2.25%
2021 1.16% 2.3%
2020 1.09% 2.34%
2019 0.94% 2.35%
2018 0.93% 2.38%
2017 0.76% 2.41%
2016 0.59% 2.38%
2015 0.57% 2.35%
2014 0.56% 2.42%
2013 0.55% 2.49%
2012 0.54% 2.56%
2011 0.56% 2.64%
2010 0.59% 2.76%
2009 0.64% 2.73%
2008 0.68% 2.53%
2007 0.58% 2.22%
2006 0.5% 2.23%
2005 0.55% 2.73%
2004 0.61% 3.44%
2003 0.69% 4.15%
2002 0.8% 5.94%
2001 0.93% 6.08%
2000 1.03% 2.44%
1999 1.09% 0.52%
1998 1.29% 0.99%
1997 1.7% 1.3%
1996 2% 0.48%
1995 -0.08% 0.15%
1994 -0.01% 0.38%
1993 2.96% -0.22%
1992 3.88% -1.88%
1991 4.1% 1.18%
1990 4.13% 4.04%
1989 4.75% 2.53%
1988 4.71% 2.74%
1987 3.96% 2.72%
1986 4.04% 2.47%
1985 3.73% 2.24%
1984 3.31% 2.21%
1983 3.34% 2.16%
1982 3.38% 2.07%
1981 3.38% 2.04%
1980 3.37% 2.01%
1979 3.36% 1.97%
1978 3.35% 1.95%
1977 3.25% 1.87%
1976 3.08% 1.82%
1975 2.98% 1.86%
1974 2.91% 1.87%
1973 2.84% 1.87%
1972 2.78% 1.85%
1971 2.71% 1.88%
1970 2.64% 1.91%
1969 2.56% 1.91%
1968 2.47% 1.92%
1967 2.57% 1.9%
1966 2.69% 1.86%
1965 2.56% 1.83%
1964 2.41% 1.77%
1963 2.32% 1.71%
1962 2.29% 1.65%
1961 2.3% 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/eswatini/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eswatini grew by 1%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Eswatini Sierra Leone
Current population
1273390
9049533
Population rank 156/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.11%
One net population change
42.7 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
17.7 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
55.5 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +34 +497
Annual growth/decline +12,316 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 101/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.52 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -5,775 -11,309
Net migration rank 121/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 33,268 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 161/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 121/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eswatini
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eswatini Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,775 - -11,309
2024 - -6,754 - -11,000
2023 20,147 -8,549 188,788 -4,000
2022 20,125 -8,549 186,625 -4,000
2021 17,314 -4,242 183,326 -1,544
2020 18,899 -4,242 181,015 1,292
2019 19,488 -8,439 181,068 -2,238
2018 19,392 -8,546 178,772 -2,741
2017 19,278 -8,658 173,259 1,234
2016 19,233 -12,481 168,784 4,657
2015 19,223 -12,582 162,275 -356
2014 19,107 -12,724 160,137 485
2013 18,903 -12,664 161,265 2,773
2012 18,308 -12,294 160,915 988
2011 17,645 -11,596 158,858 6,895
2010 17,652 -11,334 155,338 7,983
2009 17,656 -10,989 152,669 18,145
2008 17,275 -9,822 149,855 1,182
2007 16,595 -9,271 145,740 -6,042
2006 16,133 -10,923 144,127 -34,052
2005 15,945 -10,330 137,234 -1,805
2004 15,979 -9,863 132,661 23,897
2003 16,396 -9,595 130,312 69,185
2002 16,924 -9,209 126,429 86,578
2001 17,824 -8,788 116,647 227,791
2000 18,830 -8,563 110,754 83,013
1999 19,420 -8,421 102,295 -84,926
1998 19,762 -8,505 103,906 -76,766
1997 20,686 -5,911 105,433 -48,437
1996 21,858 -3,049 104,140 -52,110
1995 23,029 -3,023 100,885 -112,857
1994 26,703 -48,259 101,486 -77,371
1993 28,046 -6,692 103,317 -95,476
1992 28,446 6,011 103,251 -129,565
1991 28,497 7,496 105,477 -238,965
1990 28,349 7,169 100,778 131,587
1989 28,257 5,477 98,298 -5,079
1988 27,396 14,879 96,344 9,470
1987 27,285 2,417 94,235 9,558
1986 27,096 1,353 90,902 7,992
1985 26,835 1,792 88,869 -7,873
1984 26,149 -3,949 87,072 -8,708
1983 24,883 -3,429 84,628 -8,783
1982 24,742 -3,574 82,457 -11,379
1981 23,973 -3,464 80,111 -12,699
1980 23,153 -3,350 77,932 -11,641
1979 22,299 -3,210 75,992 -13,095
1978 21,466 -3,040 74,130 -13,073
1977 20,609 -2,838 71,663 -12,399
1976 19,734 -3,469 69,506 -15,686
1975 18,849 -3,794 67,560 -13,058
1974 17,971 -3,665 65,357 -11,473
1973 17,145 -3,555 62,443 -9,322
1972 16,353 -3,435 60,279 -8,267
1971 15,615 -3,325 58,484 -8,162
1970 14,873 -3,230 56,513 -4,957
1969 14,164 -3,127 54,768 -4,485
1968 13,449 -3,029 53,126 -3,743
1967 12,773 -2,964 51,734 -2,819
1966 12,282 -1,557 49,486 -2,911
1965 11,719 -1,578 47,223 -1,851
1964 11,266 -2,049 45,487 -2,308
1963 10,929 -2,358 43,569 -2,480
1962 10,601 -2,390 41,603 -2,658
1961 10,262 -2,270 40,022 -2,947
1960 9,947 -2,082 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 68.3% of the population change in Eswatini is from natural causes (a gain of 192,206 people) and 31.7% is from migration (a loss of 89,012 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, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K
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/eswatini/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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