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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 22.8 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Iceland vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Sierra Leone
2100 359,553 16,111,324
2099 361,331 16,126,181
2098 363,133 16,139,280
2097 364,957 16,154,153
2096 366,850 16,164,923
2095 368,746 16,173,557
2094 370,650 16,173,155
2093 372,614 16,177,864
2092 374,717 16,175,032
2091 376,803 16,168,153
2090 378,807 16,158,415
2089 380,812 16,146,773
2088 382,997 16,133,018
2087 385,164 16,116,823
2086 387,257 16,089,780
2085 389,362 16,068,438
2084 391,416 16,044,782
2083 393,481 16,011,134
2082 395,438 15,975,073
2081 397,470 15,935,071
2080 399,499 15,896,846
2079 401,462 15,854,898
2078 403,324 15,805,607
2077 405,255 15,754,551
2076 406,954 15,699,439
2075 408,546 15,639,458
2074 410,015 15,584,377
2073 411,402 15,516,736
2072 412,903 15,446,543
2071 414,245 15,374,790
2070 415,521 15,297,449
2069 416,683 15,216,666
2068 417,749 15,128,048
2067 418,899 15,032,144
2066 419,918 14,935,222
2065 420,941 14,837,697
2064 421,814 14,740,749
2063 422,695 14,642,031
2062 423,614 14,529,557
2061 424,319 14,423,861
2060 425,096 14,311,215
2059 425,721 14,198,706
2058 426,288 14,080,827
2057 426,844 13,960,869
2056 427,304 13,836,132
2055 427,695 13,706,113
2054 427,915 13,579,802
2053 428,108 13,444,465
2052 428,300 13,303,409
2051 428,278 13,156,370
2050 428,323 13,010,109
2049 428,289 12,867,021
2048 428,213 12,716,015
2047 428,102 12,570,250
2046 427,911 12,414,307
2045 427,683 12,257,874
2044 427,236 12,092,075
2043 426,580 11,931,531
2042 425,915 11,770,467
2041 425,212 11,602,993
2040 424,385 11,431,337
2039 423,407 11,262,807
2038 422,302 11,100,099
2037 421,094 10,931,629
2036 419,738 10,760,758
2035 418,238 10,585,702
2034 416,721 10,413,826
2033 415,006 10,241,196
2032 413,150 10,062,575
2031 411,039 9,883,708
2030 408,677 9,708,038
2029 406,109 9,532,000
2028 403,085 9,360,873
2027 399,797 9,179,702
2026 396,141 9,001,269
2025 391,759 8,822,114
2024 386,506 8,642,022
2023 385,663 8,460,512
2022 382,003 8,276,807
2021 372,520 8,094,602
2020 366,463 7,912,558
2019 360,563 7,731,991
2018 352,721 7,554,563
2017 343,400 7,379,299
2016 335,439 7,205,328
2015 330,815 7,037,655
2014 327,386 6,876,385
2013 323,764 6,714,051
2012 320,716 6,551,080
2011 319,014 6,387,251
2010 318,041 6,222,714
2009 318,499 6,055,646
2008 317,414 5,894,722
2007 311,566 5,749,352
2006 303,782 5,624,466
2005 296,734 5,501,712
2004 292,074 5,355,717
2003 289,521 5,177,687
2002 287,523 4,971,435
2001 284,968 4,692,716
2000 281,205 4,423,611
1999 277,381 4,318,043
1998 274,047 4,295,785
1997 271,128 4,253,716
1996 268,916 4,199,210
1995 267,468 4,179,179
1994 266,021 4,173,105
1993 263,725 4,157,130
1992 261,057 4,166,366
1991 257,797 4,246,267
1990 254,826 4,196,828
1989 252,852 4,034,037
1988 249,740 3,934,517
1987 245,859 3,829,718
1986 243,180 3,728,380
1985 241,405 3,638,438
1984 239,511 3,558,758
1983 236,977 3,481,646
1982 233,860 3,408,183
1981 230,755 3,338,940
1980 228,138 3,272,089
1979 225,735 3,207,499
1978 223,537 3,145,517
1977 221,799 3,085,354
1976 220,154 3,028,820
1975 217,979 2,974,657
1974 215,209 2,920,459
1973 212,317 2,866,955
1972 209,137 2,814,388
1971 206,098 2,763,222
1970 204,438 2,712,286
1969 203,369 2,661,365
1968 201,488 2,611,532
1967 198,751 2,562,384
1966 195,570 2,514,638
1965 192,286 2,468,666
1964 188,983 2,424,390
1963 185,653 2,382,258
1962 182,378 2,342,242
1961 179,029 2,304,227
1960 175,574 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/iceland/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd 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) Iceland's population will grow by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Sierra Leone
2100 -0.49% -0.09%
2099 -0.5% -0.08%
2098 -0.5% -0.09%
2097 -0.52% -0.07%
2096 -0.51% -0.05%
2095 -0.51% 0.002%
2094 -0.53% -0.03%
2093 -0.56% 0.02%
2092 -0.55% 0.04%
2091 -0.53% 0.06%
2090 -0.53% 0.07%
2089 -0.57% 0.09%
2088 -0.56% 0.1%
2087 -0.54% 0.17%
2086 -0.54% 0.13%
2085 -0.52% 0.15%
2084 -0.52% 0.21%
2083 -0.49% 0.23%
2082 -0.51% 0.25%
2081 -0.51% 0.24%
2080 -0.49% 0.26%
2079 -0.46% 0.31%
2078 -0.48% 0.32%
2077 -0.42% 0.35%
2076 -0.39% 0.38%
2075 -0.36% 0.35%
2074 -0.34% 0.44%
2073 -0.36% 0.45%
2072 -0.32% 0.47%
2071 -0.31% 0.51%
2070 -0.28% 0.53%
2069 -0.26% 0.59%
2068 -0.27% 0.64%
2067 -0.24% 0.65%
2066 -0.24% 0.66%
2065 -0.21% 0.66%
2064 -0.21% 0.67%
2063 -0.22% 0.77%
2062 -0.17% 0.73%
2061 -0.18% 0.79%
2060 -0.15% 0.79%
2059 -0.13% 0.84%
2058 -0.13% 0.86%
2057 -0.11% 0.9%
2056 -0.09% 0.95%
2055 -0.05% 0.93%
2054 -0.05% 1.01%
2053 -0.04% 1.06%
2052 0.005% 1.12%
2051 -0.01% 1.12%
2050 0.008% 1.11%
2049 0.02% 1.19%
2048 0.03% 1.16%
2047 0.04% 1.26%
2046 0.05% 1.28%
2045 0.1% 1.37%
2044 0.15% 1.35%
2043 0.16% 1.37%
2042 0.17% 1.44%
2041 0.2% 1.5%
2040 0.23% 1.5%
2039 0.26% 1.47%
2038 0.29% 1.54%
2037 0.32% 1.59%
2036 0.36% 1.65%
2035 0.36% 1.65%
2034 0.41% 1.69%
2033 0.45% 1.78%
2032 0.51% 1.81%
2031 0.58% 1.81%
2030 0.63% 1.85%
2029 0.75% 1.83%
2028 0.82% 1.97%
2027 0.92% 1.98%
2026 1.12% 2.03%
2025 1.36% 2.08%
2024 0.22% 2.15%
2023 0.96% 2.22%
2022 2.55% 2.25%
2021 1.65% 2.3%
2020 1.64% 2.34%
2019 2.22% 2.35%
2018 2.71% 2.38%
2017 2.37% 2.41%
2016 1.4% 2.38%
2015 1.05% 2.35%
2014 1.12% 2.42%
2013 0.95% 2.49%
2012 0.53% 2.56%
2011 0.31% 2.64%
2010 -0.14% 2.76%
2009 0.34% 2.73%
2008 1.88% 2.53%
2007 2.56% 2.22%
2006 2.38% 2.23%
2005 1.6% 2.73%
2004 0.88% 3.44%
2003 0.69% 4.15%
2002 0.9% 5.94%
2001 1.34% 6.08%
2000 1.38% 2.44%
1999 1.22% 0.52%
1998 1.08% 0.99%
1997 0.82% 1.3%
1996 0.54% 0.48%
1995 0.54% 0.15%
1994 0.87% 0.38%
1993 1.02% -0.22%
1992 1.26% -1.88%
1991 1.17% 1.18%
1990 0.78% 4.04%
1989 1.25% 2.53%
1988 1.58% 2.74%
1987 1.1% 2.72%
1986 0.74% 2.47%
1985 0.79% 2.24%
1984 1.07% 2.21%
1983 1.33% 2.16%
1982 1.35% 2.07%
1981 1.15% 2.04%
1980 1.06% 2.01%
1979 0.98% 1.97%
1978 0.78% 1.95%
1977 0.75% 1.87%
1976 1% 1.82%
1975 1.29% 1.86%
1974 1.36% 1.87%
1973 1.52% 1.87%
1972 1.47% 1.85%
1971 0.81% 1.88%
1970 0.53% 1.91%
1969 0.93% 1.91%
1968 1.38% 1.92%
1967 1.63% 1.9%
1966 1.71% 1.86%
1965 1.75% 1.83%
1964 1.79% 1.77%
1963 1.8% 1.71%
1962 1.87% 1.65%
1961 1.97% 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/iceland/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Iceland Sierra Leone
Current population
397129
9049533
Population rank 173/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.11%
One net population change
10.4 hours
2.9 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
2.03 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +497
Annual growth/decline +843 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 47/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 -11,309
Net migration rank 56/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - -11,309
2024 - 3,543 - -11,000
2023 1,697 4,630 188,788 -4,000
2022 1,719 6,535 186,625 -4,000
2021 2,534 4,911 183,326 -1,544
2020 2,199 2,498 181,015 1,292
2019 2,163 5,030 181,068 -2,238
2018 1,975 6,638 178,772 -2,741
2017 1,854 8,348 173,259 1,234
2016 1,711 4,128 168,784 4,657
2015 1,952 1,499 162,275 -356
2014 2,324 1,139 160,137 485
2013 2,169 1,666 161,265 2,773
2012 2,566 -277 160,915 988
2011 2,521 -1,393 158,858 6,895
2010 2,862 -2,055 155,338 7,983
2009 3,026 -4,785 152,669 18,145
2008 2,825 1,138 149,855 1,182
2007 2,617 5,254 145,740 -6,042
2006 2,491 5,300 144,127 -34,052
2005 2,433 3,925 137,234 -1,805
2004 2,425 610 132,661 23,897
2003 2,317 -204 130,312 69,185
2002 2,243 -333 126,429 86,578
2001 2,365 867 116,647 227,791
2000 2,475 1,877 110,754 83,013
1999 2,192 1,165 102,295 -84,926
1998 2,357 1,014 103,906 -76,766
1997 2,305 225 105,433 -48,437
1996 2,447 -511 104,140 -52,110
1995 2,354 -1,354 100,885 -112,857
1994 2,713 -804 101,486 -77,371
1993 2,875 -194 103,317 -95,476
1992 2,898 -225 103,251 -129,565
1991 2,733 1,145 105,477 -238,965
1990 3,058 -971 100,778 131,587
1989 2,832 -994 98,298 -5,079
1988 2,847 1,572 96,344 9,470
1987 2,360 944 94,235 9,558
1986 2,384 -335 90,902 7,992
1985 2,221 -628 88,869 -7,873
1984 2,539 -328 87,072 -8,708
1983 2,702 170 84,628 -8,783
1982 2,736 616 82,457 -11,379
1981 2,677 157 80,111 -12,699
1980 2,966 -629 77,932 -11,641
1979 2,980 -572 75,992 -13,095
1978 2,727 -781 74,130 -13,073
1977 2,551 -1,079 71,663 -12,399
1976 2,951 -1,181 69,506 -15,686
1975 2,965 -388 67,560 -13,058
1974 2,776 209 65,357 -11,473
1973 3,121 -310 62,443 -9,322
1972 3,241 362 60,279 -8,267
1971 2,782 -231 58,484 -8,162
1970 2,576 -1,754 56,513 -4,957
1969 2,766 -1,414 54,768 -4,485
1968 2,841 -448 53,126 -3,743
1967 3,021 47 51,734 -2,819
1966 3,305 39 49,486 -2,911
1965 3,442 -194 47,223 -1,851
1964 3,459 -67 45,487 -2,308
1963 3,490 -113 43,569 -2,480
1962 3,465 -228 41,603 -2,658
1961 3,312 164 40,022 -2,947
1960 3,758 -269 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.7% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 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, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
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/iceland/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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