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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 3.96 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Ghana vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Sierra Leone
2100 68,117,614 16,107,087
2099 68,008,028 16,121,940
2098 67,888,410 16,135,035
2097 67,759,128 16,149,905
2096 67,625,262 16,160,672
2095 67,481,344 16,169,304
2094 67,325,992 16,168,902
2093 67,162,890 16,173,609
2092 66,991,846 16,170,778
2091 66,804,098 16,163,901
2090 66,605,276 16,154,165
2089 66,395,029 16,142,526
2088 66,173,453 16,128,775
2087 65,937,323 16,112,585
2086 65,699,827 16,085,549
2085 65,451,666 16,064,212
2084 65,196,037 16,040,563
2083 64,922,457 16,006,923
2082 64,638,242 15,970,872
2081 64,342,209 15,930,880
2080 64,034,249 15,892,665
2079 63,717,528 15,850,728
2078 63,384,648 15,801,450
2077 63,046,955 15,750,408
2076 62,699,375 15,695,310
2075 62,337,964 15,635,345
2074 61,974,725 15,580,279
2073 61,604,458 15,512,655
2072 61,227,111 15,442,481
2071 60,835,024 15,370,747
2070 60,442,399 15,293,426
2069 60,041,679 15,212,664
2068 59,627,097 15,124,069
2067 59,203,373 15,028,190
2066 58,774,846 14,931,295
2065 58,341,378 14,833,794
2064 57,893,305 14,736,872
2063 57,439,982 14,638,180
2062 56,974,922 14,525,736
2061 56,500,340 14,420,068
2060 56,019,906 14,307,451
2059 55,529,609 14,194,972
2058 55,031,460 14,077,124
2057 54,524,491 13,957,197
2056 54,007,205 13,832,494
2055 53,481,428 13,702,508
2054 52,949,003 13,576,231
2053 52,407,089 13,440,929
2052 51,859,418 13,299,910
2051 51,300,839 13,152,910
2050 50,730,296 13,006,688
2049 50,153,221 12,863,637
2048 49,567,895 12,712,671
2047 48,972,414 12,566,944
2046 48,373,367 12,411,042
2045 47,766,811 12,254,651
2044 47,154,486 12,088,895
2043 46,538,892 11,928,393
2042 45,916,531 11,767,372
2041 45,291,657 11,599,942
2040 44,660,573 11,428,331
2039 44,029,228 11,259,845
2038 43,393,321 11,097,180
2037 42,752,045 10,928,754
2036 42,112,269 10,757,928
2035 41,470,624 10,582,918
2034 40,823,789 10,411,088
2033 40,176,026 10,238,503
2032 39,532,216 10,059,929
2031 38,892,407 9,881,109
2030 38,251,174 9,705,485
2029 37,616,078 9,529,493
2028 36,978,847 9,358,412
2027 36,342,429 9,177,288
2026 35,705,894 8,998,902
2025 35,064,272 8,819,794
2024 34,427,414 8,642,022
2023 33,787,914 8,460,512
2022 33,149,152 8,276,807
2021 32,518,665 8,094,602
2020 31,887,809 7,912,558
2019 31,258,945 7,731,991
2018 30,637,585 7,554,563
2017 30,008,354 7,379,299
2016 29,356,742 7,205,328
2015 28,696,068 7,037,655
2014 28,041,592 6,876,385
2013 27,386,193 6,714,051
2012 26,734,268 6,551,080
2011 26,095,088 6,387,251
2010 25,474,995 6,222,714
2009 24,862,664 6,055,646
2008 24,249,946 5,894,722
2007 23,642,279 5,749,352
2006 23,040,702 5,624,466
2005 22,449,438 5,501,712
2004 21,868,298 5,355,717
2003 21,296,705 5,177,687
2002 20,729,388 4,971,435
2001 20,167,069 4,692,716
2000 19,637,087 4,423,611
1999 19,149,864 4,318,043
1998 18,688,036 4,295,785
1997 18,238,958 4,253,716
1996 17,810,181 4,199,210
1995 17,399,017 4,179,179
1994 16,993,190 4,173,105
1993 16,589,519 4,157,130
1992 16,184,855 4,166,366
1991 15,787,496 4,246,267
1990 15,394,648 4,196,828
1989 15,006,813 4,034,037
1988 14,636,568 3,934,517
1987 14,289,108 3,829,718
1986 13,965,217 3,728,380
1985 13,661,229 3,638,438
1984 13,370,590 3,558,758
1983 13,029,836 3,481,646
1982 12,643,819 3,408,183
1981 12,281,712 3,338,940
1980 11,941,448 3,272,089
1979 11,597,255 3,207,499
1978 11,248,450 3,145,517
1977 10,911,871 3,085,354
1976 10,594,913 3,028,820
1975 10,294,308 2,974,657
1974 10,000,523 2,920,459
1973 9,714,617 2,866,955
1972 9,438,187 2,814,388
1971 9,176,264 2,763,222
1970 8,925,813 2,712,286
1969 8,690,383 2,661,365
1968 8,475,729 2,611,532
1967 8,271,913 2,562,384
1966 8,074,521 2,514,638
1965 7,882,606 2,468,666
1964 7,695,739 2,424,390
1963 7,514,714 2,382,258
1962 7,337,375 2,342,242
1961 7,162,667 2,304,227
1960 6,961,215 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/ghana/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Sierra Leone
2100 0.16% -0.09%
2099 0.18% -0.08%
2098 0.19% -0.09%
2097 0.2% -0.07%
2096 0.21% -0.05%
2095 0.23% 0.002%
2094 0.24% -0.03%
2093 0.26% 0.02%
2092 0.28% 0.04%
2091 0.3% 0.06%
2090 0.32% 0.07%
2089 0.33% 0.09%
2088 0.36% 0.1%
2087 0.36% 0.17%
2086 0.38% 0.13%
2085 0.39% 0.15%
2084 0.42% 0.21%
2083 0.44% 0.23%
2082 0.46% 0.25%
2081 0.48% 0.24%
2080 0.5% 0.26%
2079 0.53% 0.31%
2078 0.54% 0.32%
2077 0.55% 0.35%
2076 0.58% 0.38%
2075 0.59% 0.35%
2074 0.6% 0.44%
2073 0.62% 0.45%
2072 0.64% 0.47%
2071 0.65% 0.51%
2070 0.67% 0.53%
2069 0.7% 0.59%
2068 0.72% 0.64%
2067 0.73% 0.65%
2066 0.74% 0.66%
2065 0.77% 0.66%
2064 0.79% 0.67%
2063 0.82% 0.77%
2062 0.84% 0.73%
2061 0.86% 0.79%
2060 0.88% 0.79%
2059 0.91% 0.84%
2058 0.93% 0.86%
2057 0.96% 0.9%
2056 0.98% 0.95%
2055 1.01% 0.93%
2054 1.03% 1.01%
2053 1.06% 1.06%
2052 1.09% 1.12%
2051 1.12% 1.12%
2050 1.15% 1.11%
2049 1.18% 1.19%
2048 1.22% 1.16%
2047 1.24% 1.26%
2046 1.27% 1.28%
2045 1.3% 1.37%
2044 1.32% 1.35%
2043 1.36% 1.37%
2042 1.38% 1.44%
2041 1.41% 1.5%
2040 1.43% 1.5%
2039 1.47% 1.47%
2038 1.5% 1.54%
2037 1.52% 1.59%
2036 1.55% 1.65%
2035 1.58% 1.65%
2034 1.61% 1.69%
2033 1.63% 1.78%
2032 1.65% 1.81%
2031 1.68% 1.81%
2030 1.69% 1.85%
2029 1.72% 1.83%
2028 1.75% 1.97%
2027 1.78% 1.98%
2026 1.83% 2.03%
2025 1.85% 2.06%
2024 1.89% 2.15%
2023 1.93% 2.22%
2022 1.94% 2.25%
2021 1.98% 2.3%
2020 2.01% 2.34%
2019 2.03% 2.35%
2018 2.1% 2.38%
2017 2.22% 2.41%
2016 2.3% 2.38%
2015 2.33% 2.35%
2014 2.39% 2.42%
2013 2.44% 2.49%
2012 2.45% 2.56%
2011 2.43% 2.64%
2010 2.46% 2.76%
2009 2.53% 2.73%
2008 2.57% 2.53%
2007 2.61% 2.22%
2006 2.63% 2.23%
2005 2.66% 2.73%
2004 2.68% 3.44%
2003 2.74% 4.15%
2002 2.79% 5.94%
2001 2.7% 6.08%
2000 2.54% 2.44%
1999 2.47% 0.52%
1998 2.46% 0.99%
1997 2.41% 1.3%
1996 2.36% 0.48%
1995 2.39% 0.15%
1994 2.43% 0.38%
1993 2.5% -0.22%
1992 2.52% -1.88%
1991 2.55% 1.18%
1990 2.58% 4.04%
1989 2.53% 2.53%
1988 2.43% 2.74%
1987 2.32% 2.72%
1986 2.23% 2.47%
1985 2.17% 2.24%
1984 2.62% 2.21%
1983 3.05% 2.16%
1982 2.95% 2.07%
1981 2.85% 2.04%
1980 2.97% 2.01%
1979 3.1% 1.97%
1978 3.08% 1.95%
1977 2.99% 1.87%
1976 2.92% 1.82%
1975 2.94% 1.86%
1974 2.94% 1.87%
1973 2.93% 1.87%
1972 2.85% 1.85%
1971 2.81% 1.88%
1970 2.71% 1.91%
1969 2.53% 1.91%
1968 2.46% 1.92%
1967 2.44% 1.9%
1966 2.43% 1.86%
1965 2.43% 1.83%
1964 2.41% 1.77%
1963 2.42% 1.71%
1962 2.44% 1.65%
1961 2.89% 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/ghana/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Ghana Sierra Leone
Current population
36032857
9090531
Population rank 46/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.11%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
35.3 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
2.18 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +487
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 47/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 -11,309
Net migration rank 150/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -11,309
2024 651,057 -13,114 189,234 -11,000
2023 651,094 -10,003 188,788 -4,000
2022 646,441 -10,003 186,625 -4,000
2021 635,805 -11,259 183,326 -1,544
2020 637,469 -291 181,015 1,292
2019 642,403 -21,857 181,068 -2,238
2018 641,551 -19,375 178,772 -2,741
2017 641,218 -4,913 173,259 1,234
2016 659,910 7,009 168,784 4,657
2015 667,729 -13,306 162,275 -356
2014 660,829 -6,312 160,137 485
2013 658,638 -2,377 161,265 2,773
2012 646,595 1,005 160,915 988
2011 631,501 -720 158,858 6,895
2010 613,133 -3,726 155,338 7,983
2009 592,825 22,416 152,669 18,145
2008 579,695 30,506 149,855 1,182
2007 572,332 32,813 145,740 -6,042
2006 569,474 28,536 144,127 -34,052
2005 563,234 21,272 137,234 -1,805
2004 543,339 34,433 132,661 23,897
2003 536,656 28,768 130,312 69,185
2002 528,620 40,573 126,429 86,578
2001 519,382 36,050 116,647 227,791
2000 508,738 -4,206 110,754 83,013
1999 487,210 -17,304 102,295 -84,926
1998 471,313 -17,564 103,906 -76,766
1997 459,822 -15,409 105,433 -48,437
1996 450,259 -37,113 104,140 -52,110
1995 451,748 -42,558 100,885 -112,857
1994 449,589 -47,120 101,486 -77,371
1993 454,669 -49,792 103,317 -95,476
1992 452,156 -47,736 103,251 -129,565
1991 448,159 -57,878 105,477 -238,965
1990 442,211 -46,789 100,778 131,587
1989 432,541 -52,293 98,298 -5,079
1988 425,031 -64,810 96,344 9,470
1987 419,328 -84,648 94,235 9,558
1986 411,191 -98,099 90,902 7,992
1985 401,722 -106,855 88,869 -7,873
1984 392,053 -105,655 87,072 -8,708
1983 379,846 15,276 84,628 -8,783
1982 369,061 7,863 82,457 -11,379
1981 359,572 -12,296 80,111 -12,699
1980 346,816 -13,564 77,932 -11,641
1979 334,848 20,291 75,992 -13,095
1978 324,428 18,041 74,130 -13,073
1977 315,429 15,243 71,663 -12,399
1976 305,769 -2,528 69,506 -15,686
1975 298,267 -292 67,560 -13,058
1974 290,796 -1,197 65,357 -11,473
1973 283,385 -1,168 62,443 -9,322
1972 275,236 -4,589 60,279 -8,267
1971 265,442 -12,238 58,484 -8,162
1970 257,938 -10,233 56,513 -4,957
1969 251,925 -28,752 54,768 -4,485
1968 242,821 -36,683 53,126 -3,743
1967 237,156 -35,666 51,734 -2,819
1966 231,440 -38,143 49,486 -2,911
1965 229,061 -38,519 47,223 -1,851
1964 226,685 -43,480 45,487 -2,308
1963 225,367 -46,516 43,569 -2,480
1962 223,842 -48,017 41,603 -2,658
1961 222,372 -48,777 40,022 -2,947
1960 217,134 12,181 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 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, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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 (1960–2025, 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/ghana/sierra-leone | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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