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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.63 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Ireland vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Sierra Leone
2100 5,500,499 16,107,087
2099 5,525,011 16,121,940
2098 5,548,986 16,135,035
2097 5,572,279 16,149,905
2096 5,595,064 16,160,672
2095 5,615,877 16,169,304
2094 5,636,027 16,168,902
2093 5,655,870 16,173,609
2092 5,675,151 16,170,778
2091 5,694,092 16,163,901
2090 5,713,009 16,154,165
2089 5,730,546 16,142,526
2088 5,747,238 16,128,775
2087 5,762,650 16,112,585
2086 5,776,705 16,085,549
2085 5,791,049 16,064,212
2084 5,805,074 16,040,563
2083 5,818,867 16,006,923
2082 5,831,653 15,970,872
2081 5,842,944 15,930,880
2080 5,855,351 15,892,665
2079 5,870,572 15,850,728
2078 5,885,866 15,801,450
2077 5,901,647 15,750,408
2076 5,917,991 15,695,310
2075 5,934,408 15,635,345
2074 5,951,970 15,580,279
2073 5,969,385 15,512,655
2072 5,986,721 15,442,481
2071 6,003,888 15,370,747
2070 6,021,481 15,293,426
2069 6,038,378 15,212,664
2068 6,054,840 15,124,069
2067 6,070,805 15,028,190
2066 6,086,691 14,931,295
2065 6,101,966 14,833,794
2064 6,116,867 14,736,872
2063 6,129,790 14,638,180
2062 6,141,729 14,525,736
2061 6,154,062 14,420,068
2060 6,167,032 14,307,451
2059 6,179,602 14,194,972
2058 6,189,124 14,077,124
2057 6,196,781 13,957,197
2056 6,199,786 13,832,494
2055 6,204,376 13,702,508
2054 6,205,225 13,576,231
2053 6,205,444 13,440,929
2052 6,203,350 13,299,910
2051 6,200,637 13,152,910
2050 6,195,469 13,006,688
2049 6,187,289 12,863,637
2048 6,175,872 12,712,671
2047 6,163,776 12,566,944
2046 6,150,911 12,411,042
2045 6,134,927 12,254,651
2044 6,116,643 12,088,895
2043 6,097,627 11,928,393
2042 6,076,713 11,767,372
2041 6,052,462 11,599,942
2040 6,027,054 11,428,331
2039 6,002,204 11,259,845
2038 5,974,917 11,097,180
2037 5,946,606 10,928,754
2036 5,918,275 10,757,928
2035 5,889,854 10,582,918
2034 5,858,952 10,411,088
2033 5,826,337 10,238,503
2032 5,791,225 10,059,929
2031 5,754,845 9,881,109
2030 5,717,377 9,705,485
2029 5,676,731 9,529,493
2028 5,632,552 9,358,412
2027 5,585,925 9,177,288
2026 5,537,167 8,998,902
2025 5,484,367 8,819,794
2024 5,395,790 8,642,022
2023 5,311,538 8,460,512
2022 5,212,836 8,276,807
2021 5,110,585 8,094,602
2020 5,039,747 7,912,558
2019 4,976,456 7,731,991
2018 4,898,022 7,554,563
2017 4,827,445 7,379,299
2016 4,762,722 7,205,328
2015 4,701,957 7,037,655
2014 4,657,740 6,876,385
2013 4,623,816 6,714,051
2012 4,599,533 6,551,080
2011 4,580,084 6,387,251
2010 4,560,155 6,222,714
2009 4,535,375 6,055,646
2008 4,489,544 5,894,722
2007 4,398,942 5,749,352
2006 4,273,591 5,624,466
2005 4,159,914 5,501,712
2004 4,070,262 5,355,717
2003 3,996,521 5,177,687
2002 3,931,947 4,971,435
2001 3,866,243 4,692,716
2000 3,805,174 4,423,611
1999 3,754,786 4,318,043
1998 3,712,696 4,295,785
1997 3,674,171 4,253,716
1996 3,637,510 4,199,210
1995 3,608,841 4,179,179
1994 3,590,386 4,173,105
1993 3,576,261 4,157,130
1992 3,558,430 4,166,366
1991 3,534,235 4,246,267
1990 3,513,974 4,196,828
1989 3,511,009 4,034,037
1988 3,524,949 3,934,517
1987 3,540,057 3,829,718
1986 3,539,690 3,728,380
1985 3,538,082 3,638,438
1984 3,532,423 3,558,758
1983 3,510,600 3,481,646
1982 3,485,800 3,408,183
1981 3,453,000 3,338,940
1980 3,412,800 3,272,089
1979 3,373,750 3,207,499
1978 3,329,100 3,145,517
1977 3,282,200 3,085,354
1976 3,238,050 3,028,820
1975 3,189,550 2,974,657
1974 3,137,500 2,920,459
1973 3,085,950 2,866,955
1972 3,036,850 2,814,388
1971 2,992,050 2,763,222
1970 2,957,250 2,712,286
1969 2,932,650 2,661,365
1968 2,915,550 2,611,532
1967 2,902,450 2,562,384
1966 2,888,800 2,514,638
1965 2,877,300 2,468,666
1964 2,866,550 2,424,390
1963 2,852,650 2,382,258
1962 2,836,050 2,342,242
1961 2,824,400 2,304,227
1960 2,828,600 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/ireland/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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) Ireland's population will grow by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Sierra Leone
2100 -0.44% -0.09%
2099 -0.43% -0.08%
2098 -0.42% -0.09%
2097 -0.41% -0.07%
2096 -0.37% -0.05%
2095 -0.36% 0.002%
2094 -0.35% -0.03%
2093 -0.34% 0.02%
2092 -0.33% 0.04%
2091 -0.33% 0.06%
2090 -0.31% 0.07%
2089 -0.29% 0.09%
2088 -0.27% 0.1%
2087 -0.24% 0.17%
2086 -0.25% 0.13%
2085 -0.24% 0.15%
2084 -0.24% 0.21%
2083 -0.22% 0.23%
2082 -0.19% 0.25%
2081 -0.21% 0.24%
2080 -0.26% 0.26%
2079 -0.26% 0.31%
2078 -0.27% 0.32%
2077 -0.28% 0.35%
2076 -0.28% 0.38%
2075 -0.3% 0.35%
2074 -0.29% 0.44%
2073 -0.29% 0.45%
2072 -0.29% 0.47%
2071 -0.29% 0.51%
2070 -0.28% 0.53%
2069 -0.27% 0.59%
2068 -0.26% 0.64%
2067 -0.26% 0.65%
2066 -0.25% 0.66%
2065 -0.24% 0.66%
2064 -0.21% 0.67%
2063 -0.19% 0.77%
2062 -0.2% 0.73%
2061 -0.21% 0.79%
2060 -0.2% 0.79%
2059 -0.15% 0.84%
2058 -0.12% 0.86%
2057 -0.05% 0.9%
2056 -0.07% 0.95%
2055 -0.01% 0.93%
2054 -0.004% 1.01%
2053 0.03% 1.06%
2052 0.04% 1.12%
2051 0.08% 1.12%
2050 0.13% 1.11%
2049 0.18% 1.19%
2048 0.2% 1.16%
2047 0.21% 1.26%
2046 0.26% 1.28%
2045 0.3% 1.37%
2044 0.31% 1.35%
2043 0.34% 1.37%
2042 0.4% 1.44%
2041 0.42% 1.5%
2040 0.41% 1.5%
2039 0.46% 1.47%
2038 0.48% 1.54%
2037 0.48% 1.59%
2036 0.48% 1.65%
2035 0.53% 1.65%
2034 0.56% 1.69%
2033 0.61% 1.78%
2032 0.63% 1.81%
2031 0.66% 1.81%
2030 0.72% 1.85%
2029 0.78% 1.83%
2028 0.83% 1.97%
2027 0.88% 1.98%
2026 0.96% 2.03%
2025 1.64% 2.06%
2024 1.59% 2.15%
2023 1.89% 2.22%
2022 2% 2.25%
2021 1.41% 2.3%
2020 1.27% 2.34%
2019 1.6% 2.35%
2018 1.46% 2.38%
2017 1.36% 2.41%
2016 1.29% 2.38%
2015 0.95% 2.35%
2014 0.73% 2.42%
2013 0.53% 2.49%
2012 0.42% 2.56%
2011 0.44% 2.64%
2010 0.55% 2.76%
2009 1.02% 2.73%
2008 2.06% 2.53%
2007 2.93% 2.22%
2006 2.73% 2.23%
2005 2.2% 2.73%
2004 1.85% 3.44%
2003 1.64% 4.15%
2002 1.7% 5.94%
2001 1.6% 6.08%
2000 1.34% 2.44%
1999 1.13% 0.52%
1998 1.05% 0.99%
1997 1.01% 1.3%
1996 0.79% 0.48%
1995 0.51% 0.15%
1994 0.39% 0.38%
1993 0.5% -0.22%
1992 0.68% -1.88%
1991 0.58% 1.18%
1990 0.08% 4.04%
1989 -0.4% 2.53%
1988 -0.43% 2.74%
1987 0.01% 2.72%
1986 0.05% 2.47%
1985 0.16% 2.24%
1984 0.62% 2.21%
1983 0.71% 2.16%
1982 0.95% 2.07%
1981 1.18% 2.04%
1980 1.16% 2.01%
1979 1.34% 1.97%
1978 1.43% 1.95%
1977 1.36% 1.87%
1976 1.52% 1.82%
1975 1.66% 1.86%
1974 1.67% 1.87%
1973 1.62% 1.87%
1972 1.5% 1.85%
1971 1.18% 1.88%
1970 0.84% 1.91%
1969 0.59% 1.91%
1968 0.45% 1.92%
1967 0.47% 1.9%
1966 0.4% 1.86%
1965 0.38% 1.83%
1964 0.49% 1.77%
1963 0.59% 1.71%
1962 0.41% 1.65%
1961 -0.15% 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/ireland/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Ireland Sierra Leone
Current population
5562212
9090531
Population rank 122/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +487
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 47/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -11,309
Net migration rank 27/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -11,309
2024 18,885 39,059 189,234 -11,000
2023 19,652 43,873 188,788 -4,000
2022 19,287 93,535 186,625 -4,000
2021 26,064 27,419 183,326 -1,544
2020 23,687 15,746 181,015 1,292
2019 28,365 29,663 181,068 -2,238
2018 29,878 33,387 178,772 -2,741
2017 31,379 28,883 173,259 1,234
2016 33,339 18,967 168,784 4,657
2015 35,265 13,376 162,275 -356
2014 37,728 448 160,137 485
2013 39,302 -12,309 161,265 2,773
2012 42,775 -22,411 160,915 988
2011 45,801 -26,529 158,858 6,895
2010 47,426 -26,974 155,338 7,983
2009 47,168 -18,524 152,669 18,145
2008 46,691 18,979 149,855 1,182
2007 43,109 76,465 145,740 -6,042
2006 36,752 94,513 144,127 -34,052
2005 33,279 63,983 137,234 -1,805
2004 33,376 49,102 132,661 23,897
2003 32,372 32,220 130,312 69,185
2002 31,062 34,286 126,429 86,578
2001 27,837 39,220 116,647 227,791
2000 23,592 31,298 110,754 83,013
1999 21,402 23,592 102,295 -84,926
1998 22,277 16,615 103,906 -76,766
1997 21,311 17,425 105,433 -48,437
1996 18,915 9,959 104,140 -52,110
1995 16,601 10,019 100,885 -112,857
1994 17,234 -3,118 101,486 -77,371
1993 17,166 -3,762 103,317 -95,476
1992 20,283 1,335 103,251 -129,565
1991 21,206 4,944 105,477 -238,965
1990 21,787 -8,203 100,778 131,587
1989 20,012 -28,752 98,298 -5,079
1988 22,912 -44,020 96,344 9,470
1987 26,904 -38,426 94,235 9,558
1986 27,963 -21,139 90,902 7,992
1985 29,013 -16,178 88,869 -7,873
1984 31,791 -15,549 87,072 -8,708
1983 34,053 -15,043 84,628 -8,783
1982 38,344 -14,464 82,457 -11,379
1981 39,364 -10,834 80,111 -12,699
1980 40,612 -2,876 77,932 -11,641
1979 38,798 1,486 75,992 -13,095
1978 36,288 15,543 74,130 -13,073
1977 35,448 14,505 71,663 -12,399
1976 33,676 14,200 69,506 -15,686
1975 34,128 13,828 67,560 -13,058
1974 34,199 13,482 65,357 -11,473
1973 34,562 13,164 62,443 -9,322
1972 34,316 12,858 60,279 -8,267
1971 35,606 5,851 58,484 -8,162
1970 30,756 -8,892 56,513 -4,957
1969 29,326 -10,250 54,768 -4,485
1968 27,697 -11,132 53,126 -3,743
1967 29,895 -11,708 51,734 -2,819
1966 26,866 -11,858 49,486 -2,911
1965 30,500 -14,016 47,223 -1,851
1964 31,532 -15,640 45,487 -2,308
1963 29,667 -16,615 43,569 -2,480
1962 28,077 -17,438 41,603 -2,658
1961 25,137 -22,237 40,022 -2,947
1960 28,286 -38,492 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 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, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K
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/ireland/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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