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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 5.34 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Iraq vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Sierra Leone
2100 101,632,594 16,111,324
2099 101,421,266 16,126,181
2098 101,212,536 16,139,280
2097 100,980,835 16,154,153
2096 100,724,441 16,164,923
2095 100,464,590 16,173,557
2094 100,194,041 16,173,155
2093 99,876,174 16,177,864
2092 99,532,041 16,175,032
2091 99,203,830 16,168,153
2090 98,886,956 16,158,415
2089 98,513,025 16,146,773
2088 98,144,039 16,133,018
2087 97,767,537 16,116,823
2086 97,325,026 16,089,780
2085 96,873,007 16,068,438
2084 96,448,602 16,044,782
2083 95,991,166 16,011,134
2082 95,509,663 15,975,073
2081 95,009,326 15,935,071
2080 94,507,216 15,896,846
2079 93,960,228 15,854,898
2078 93,417,384 15,805,607
2077 92,903,983 15,754,551
2076 92,359,592 15,699,439
2075 91,825,254 15,639,458
2074 91,229,266 15,584,377
2073 90,571,021 15,516,736
2072 89,918,374 15,446,543
2071 89,265,548 15,374,790
2070 88,596,492 15,297,449
2069 87,909,474 15,216,666
2068 87,220,494 15,128,048
2067 86,513,996 15,032,144
2066 85,734,530 14,935,222
2065 84,971,898 14,837,697
2064 84,191,350 14,740,749
2063 83,387,951 14,642,031
2062 82,604,577 14,529,557
2061 81,800,637 14,423,861
2060 80,951,008 14,311,215
2059 80,141,868 14,198,706
2058 79,319,543 14,080,827
2057 78,477,339 13,960,869
2056 77,609,202 13,836,132
2055 76,739,924 13,706,113
2054 75,857,125 13,579,802
2053 74,952,948 13,444,465
2052 74,072,580 13,303,409
2051 73,150,234 13,156,370
2050 72,235,938 13,010,109
2049 71,272,122 12,867,021
2048 70,316,860 12,716,015
2047 69,347,823 12,570,250
2046 68,400,664 12,414,307
2045 67,435,953 12,257,874
2044 66,447,309 12,092,075
2043 65,453,565 11,931,531
2042 64,433,831 11,770,467
2041 63,408,709 11,602,993
2040 62,360,117 11,431,337
2039 61,289,355 11,262,807
2038 60,253,073 11,100,099
2037 59,221,658 10,931,629
2036 58,155,990 10,760,758
2035 57,127,999 10,585,702
2034 56,087,695 10,413,826
2033 55,051,140 10,241,196
2032 54,002,289 10,062,575
2031 52,991,443 9,883,708
2030 51,986,773 9,708,038
2029 50,982,563 9,532,000
2028 50,001,133 9,360,873
2027 49,014,822 9,179,702
2026 48,020,334 9,001,269
2025 47,020,527 8,822,114
2024 46,042,015 8,642,022
2023 45,074,049 8,460,512
2022 44,070,551 8,276,807
2021 43,071,211 8,094,602
2020 42,116,605 7,912,558
2019 41,192,171 7,731,991
2018 40,265,624 7,554,563
2017 39,337,353 7,379,299
2016 38,469,627 7,205,328
2015 37,560,535 7,037,655
2014 36,550,059 6,876,385
2013 35,281,989 6,714,051
2012 33,654,842 6,551,080
2011 32,161,424 6,387,251
2010 31,045,366 6,222,714
2009 30,058,206 6,055,646
2008 28,971,036 5,894,722
2007 28,391,607 5,749,352
2006 28,616,515 5,624,466
2005 28,407,448 5,501,712
2004 27,577,878 5,355,717
2003 26,802,659 5,177,687
2002 26,006,559 4,971,435
2001 25,197,840 4,692,716
2000 24,424,056 4,423,611
1999 23,636,527 4,318,043
1998 22,884,399 4,295,785
1997 22,176,593 4,253,716
1996 21,501,321 4,199,210
1995 20,825,860 4,179,179
1994 20,139,807 4,173,105
1993 19,201,195 4,157,130
1992 18,300,845 4,166,366
1991 17,767,253 4,246,267
1990 17,581,206 4,196,828
1989 17,364,542 4,034,037
1988 16,908,819 3,934,517
1987 16,521,049 3,829,718
1986 16,074,145 3,728,380
1985 15,683,430 3,638,438
1984 15,310,733 3,558,758
1983 14,840,555 3,481,646
1982 14,406,083 3,408,183
1981 14,006,381 3,338,940
1980 13,591,992 3,272,089
1979 13,170,365 3,207,499
1978 12,753,355 3,145,517
1977 12,331,046 3,085,354
1976 11,927,651 3,028,820
1975 11,543,639 2,974,657
1974 11,167,761 2,920,459
1973 10,795,869 2,866,955
1972 10,430,164 2,814,388
1971 10,077,809 2,763,222
1970 9,735,611 2,712,286
1969 9,403,356 2,661,365
1968 9,085,016 2,611,532
1967 8,778,869 2,562,384
1966 8,485,104 2,514,638
1965 8,202,140 2,468,666
1964 7,929,566 2,424,390
1963 7,667,928 2,382,258
1962 7,413,875 2,342,242
1961 7,194,553 2,304,227
1960 7,022,052 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/iraq/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd 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) Iraq's population will grow by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Sierra Leone
2100 0.21% -0.09%
2099 0.21% -0.08%
2098 0.23% -0.09%
2097 0.25% -0.07%
2096 0.26% -0.05%
2095 0.27% 0.002%
2094 0.32% -0.03%
2093 0.35% 0.02%
2092 0.33% 0.04%
2091 0.32% 0.06%
2090 0.38% 0.07%
2089 0.38% 0.09%
2088 0.39% 0.1%
2087 0.45% 0.17%
2086 0.47% 0.13%
2085 0.44% 0.15%
2084 0.48% 0.21%
2083 0.5% 0.23%
2082 0.53% 0.25%
2081 0.53% 0.24%
2080 0.58% 0.26%
2079 0.58% 0.31%
2078 0.55% 0.32%
2077 0.59% 0.35%
2076 0.58% 0.38%
2075 0.65% 0.35%
2074 0.73% 0.44%
2073 0.73% 0.45%
2072 0.73% 0.47%
2071 0.76% 0.51%
2070 0.78% 0.53%
2069 0.79% 0.59%
2068 0.82% 0.64%
2067 0.91% 0.65%
2066 0.9% 0.66%
2065 0.93% 0.66%
2064 0.96% 0.67%
2063 0.95% 0.77%
2062 0.98% 0.73%
2061 1.05% 0.79%
2060 1.01% 0.79%
2059 1.04% 0.84%
2058 1.07% 0.86%
2057 1.12% 0.9%
2056 1.13% 0.95%
2055 1.16% 0.93%
2054 1.21% 1.01%
2053 1.19% 1.06%
2052 1.26% 1.12%
2051 1.27% 1.12%
2050 1.35% 1.11%
2049 1.36% 1.19%
2048 1.4% 1.16%
2047 1.38% 1.26%
2046 1.43% 1.28%
2045 1.49% 1.37%
2044 1.52% 1.35%
2043 1.58% 1.37%
2042 1.62% 1.44%
2041 1.68% 1.5%
2040 1.75% 1.5%
2039 1.72% 1.47%
2038 1.74% 1.54%
2037 1.83% 1.59%
2036 1.8% 1.65%
2035 1.85% 1.65%
2034 1.88% 1.69%
2033 1.94% 1.78%
2032 1.91% 1.81%
2031 1.93% 1.81%
2030 1.97% 1.85%
2029 1.96% 1.83%
2028 2.01% 1.97%
2027 2.07% 1.98%
2026 2.13% 2.03%
2025 2.13% 2.08%
2024 2.15% 2.15%
2023 2.28% 2.22%
2022 2.32% 2.25%
2021 2.27% 2.3%
2020 2.24% 2.34%
2019 2.3% 2.35%
2018 2.36% 2.38%
2017 2.26% 2.41%
2016 2.42% 2.38%
2015 2.76% 2.35%
2014 3.59% 2.42%
2013 4.83% 2.49%
2012 4.64% 2.56%
2011 3.59% 2.64%
2010 3.28% 2.76%
2009 3.75% 2.73%
2008 2.04% 2.53%
2007 -0.79% 2.22%
2006 0.74% 2.23%
2005 3.01% 2.73%
2004 2.89% 3.44%
2003 3.06% 4.15%
2002 3.21% 5.94%
2001 3.17% 6.08%
2000 3.33% 2.44%
1999 3.29% 0.52%
1998 3.19% 0.99%
1997 3.14% 1.3%
1996 3.24% 0.48%
1995 3.41% 0.15%
1994 4.89% 0.38%
1993 4.92% -0.22%
1992 3% -1.88%
1991 1.06% 1.18%
1990 1.25% 4.04%
1989 2.7% 2.53%
1988 2.35% 2.74%
1987 2.78% 2.72%
1986 2.49% 2.47%
1985 2.43% 2.24%
1984 3.17% 2.21%
1983 3.02% 2.16%
1982 2.85% 2.07%
1981 3.05% 2.04%
1980 3.2% 2.01%
1979 3.27% 1.97%
1978 3.42% 1.95%
1977 3.38% 1.87%
1976 3.33% 1.82%
1975 3.37% 1.86%
1974 3.44% 1.87%
1973 3.51% 1.87%
1972 3.5% 1.85%
1971 3.51% 1.88%
1970 3.53% 1.91%
1969 3.5% 1.91%
1968 3.49% 1.92%
1967 3.46% 1.9%
1966 3.45% 1.86%
1965 3.44% 1.83%
1964 3.41% 1.77%
1963 3.43% 1.71%
1962 3.05% 1.65%
1961 2.46% 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/iraq/sierra-leone | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Iraq Sierra Leone
Current population
48289334
9049533
Population rank 33/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.11%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +497
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 47/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 -11,309
Net migration rank 93/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -11,309
2024 - -17,735 - -11,000
2023 973,420 -5,710 188,788 -4,000
2022 962,501 76,821 186,625 -4,000
2021 941,924 17,474 183,326 -1,544
2020 919,953 29,858 181,015 1,292
2019 942,972 -43,919 181,068 -2,238
2018 938,310 15,775 178,772 -2,741
2017 924,507 -21,998 173,259 1,234
2016 946,968 -113,980 168,784 4,657
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 162,275 -356
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 160,137 485
2013 1,026,036 474,379 161,265 2,773
2012 999,987 753,907 160,915 988
2011 971,082 261,880 158,858 6,895
2010 906,369 92,779 155,338 7,983
2009 855,096 120,092 152,669 18,145
2008 802,382 396,792 149,855 1,182
2007 784,119 -824,428 145,740 -6,042
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 144,127 -34,052
2005 776,603 51,019 137,234 -1,805
2004 761,563 69,948 132,661 23,897
2003 746,159 -27,236 130,312 69,185
2002 739,419 133,839 126,429 86,578
2001 729,704 14,451 116,647 227,791
2000 715,771 87,624 110,754 83,013
1999 702,170 69,491 102,295 -84,926
1998 684,152 48,446 103,906 -76,766
1997 667,582 15,429 105,433 -48,437
1996 652,866 14,652 104,140 -52,110
1995 642,977 40,424 100,885 -112,857
1994 634,344 54,355 101,486 -77,371
1993 606,700 581,818 103,317 -95,476
1992 591,886 20,292 103,251 -129,565
1991 550,146 -95,155 105,477 -238,965
1990 518,575 -601,469 100,778 131,587
1989 496,852 19,392 98,298 -5,079
1988 476,778 -81,562 96,344 9,470
1987 488,742 -108,426 94,235 9,558
1986 474,348 39,136 90,902 7,992
1985 467,445 -199,505 88,869 -7,873
1984 455,740 21,709 87,072 -8,708
1983 439,800 23,115 84,628 -8,783
1982 428,336 -22,302 82,457 -11,379
1981 416,998 -23,640 80,111 -12,699
1980 419,653 15,757 77,932 -11,641
1979 428,458 -20,617 75,992 -13,095
1978 418,756 7,434 74,130 -13,073
1977 410,229 8,204 71,663 -12,399
1976 402,260 -13,915 69,506 -15,686
1975 385,916 -6,237 67,560 -13,058
1974 376,197 -4,090 65,357 -11,473
1973 373,191 -1,507 62,443 -9,322
1972 362,334 -2,600 60,279 -8,267
1971 351,464 -6,479 58,484 -8,162
1970 338,030 1,377 56,513 -4,957
1969 324,792 312 54,768 -4,485
1968 310,644 928 53,126 -3,743
1967 298,192 2,531 51,734 -2,819
1966 285,507 1,298 49,486 -2,911
1965 274,551 4,555 47,223 -1,851
1964 262,825 3,224 45,487 -2,308
1963 254,046 3,197 43,569 -2,480
1962 247,520 3,343 41,603 -2,658
1961 184,792 2,981 40,022 -2,947
1960 155,651 1,573 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.2% of the population change in Iraq is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 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, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K
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/iraq/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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