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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 3.97 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • 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 +2.1% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Ghana vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Sierra Leone
2100 68,131,252 16,111,324
2099 68,021,644 16,126,181
2098 67,902,002 16,139,280
2097 67,772,694 16,154,153
2096 67,638,801 16,164,923
2095 67,494,855 16,173,557
2094 67,339,471 16,173,155
2093 67,176,337 16,177,864
2092 67,005,259 16,175,032
2091 66,817,473 16,168,153
2090 66,618,611 16,158,415
2089 66,408,323 16,146,773
2088 66,186,701 16,133,018
2087 65,950,524 16,116,823
2086 65,712,980 16,089,780
2085 65,464,770 16,068,438
2084 65,209,090 16,044,782
2083 64,935,455 16,011,134
2082 64,651,183 15,975,073
2081 64,355,091 15,935,071
2080 64,047,069 15,896,846
2079 63,730,285 15,854,898
2078 63,397,338 15,805,607
2077 63,059,578 15,754,551
2076 62,711,928 15,699,439
2075 62,350,445 15,639,458
2074 61,987,133 15,584,377
2073 61,616,792 15,516,736
2072 61,239,369 15,446,543
2071 60,847,204 15,374,790
2070 60,454,501 15,297,449
2069 60,053,700 15,216,666
2068 59,639,035 15,128,048
2067 59,215,226 15,032,144
2066 58,786,613 14,935,222
2065 58,353,059 14,837,697
2064 57,904,896 14,740,749
2063 57,451,482 14,642,031
2062 56,986,329 14,529,557
2061 56,511,652 14,423,861
2060 56,031,122 14,311,215
2059 55,540,726 14,198,706
2058 55,042,478 14,080,827
2057 54,535,407 13,960,869
2056 54,018,018 13,836,132
2055 53,492,136 13,706,113
2054 52,959,604 13,579,802
2053 52,417,582 13,444,465
2052 51,869,801 13,303,409
2051 51,311,110 13,156,370
2050 50,740,453 13,010,109
2049 50,163,262 12,867,021
2048 49,577,819 12,716,015
2047 48,982,219 12,570,250
2046 48,383,052 12,414,307
2045 47,776,375 12,257,874
2044 47,163,926 12,092,075
2043 46,548,210 11,931,531
2042 45,925,724 11,770,467
2041 45,300,725 11,602,993
2040 44,669,515 11,431,337
2039 44,038,043 11,262,807
2038 43,402,009 11,100,099
2037 42,760,604 10,931,629
2036 42,120,700 10,760,758
2035 41,478,927 10,585,702
2034 40,831,962 10,413,826
2033 40,184,070 10,241,196
2032 39,540,131 10,062,575
2031 38,900,194 9,883,708
2030 38,258,832 9,708,038
2029 37,623,609 9,532,000
2028 36,986,250 9,360,873
2027 36,349,705 9,179,702
2026 35,713,042 9,001,269
2025 35,071,292 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people with a rank change from 46th to 42nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 1.87% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Ghana Sierra Leone
Current population
35885254
9049533
Population rank 46/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.11%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +497
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +2.15%
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 - -13,114 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.6% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/ghana/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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