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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.64 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • 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 +1.41% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Ireland vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Sierra Leone
2100 5,468,791 16,111,324
2099 5,493,162 16,126,181
2098 5,516,999 16,139,280
2097 5,540,157 16,154,153
2096 5,562,811 16,164,923
2095 5,583,505 16,173,557
2094 5,603,538 16,173,155
2093 5,623,266 16,177,864
2092 5,642,437 16,175,032
2091 5,661,268 16,168,153
2090 5,680,076 16,158,415
2089 5,697,512 16,146,773
2088 5,714,108 16,133,018
2087 5,729,431 16,116,823
2086 5,743,405 16,089,780
2085 5,757,666 16,068,438
2084 5,771,610 16,044,782
2083 5,785,324 16,011,134
2082 5,798,037 15,975,073
2081 5,809,262 15,935,071
2080 5,821,598 15,896,846
2079 5,836,731 15,854,898
2078 5,851,937 15,805,607
2077 5,867,627 15,754,551
2076 5,883,876 15,699,439
2075 5,900,200 15,639,458
2074 5,917,659 15,584,377
2073 5,934,975 15,516,736
2072 5,952,211 15,446,543
2071 5,969,279 15,374,790
2070 5,986,770 15,297,449
2069 6,003,570 15,216,666
2068 6,019,937 15,128,048
2067 6,035,810 15,032,144
2066 6,051,604 14,935,222
2065 6,066,791 14,837,697
2064 6,081,606 14,740,749
2063 6,094,455 14,642,031
2062 6,106,325 14,529,557
2061 6,118,587 14,423,861
2060 6,131,482 14,311,215
2059 6,143,979 14,198,706
2058 6,153,447 14,080,827
2057 6,161,059 13,960,869
2056 6,164,047 13,836,132
2055 6,168,611 13,706,113
2054 6,169,455 13,579,802
2053 6,169,673 13,444,465
2052 6,167,591 13,303,409
2051 6,164,894 13,156,370
2050 6,159,756 13,010,109
2049 6,151,623 12,867,021
2048 6,140,272 12,716,015
2047 6,128,245 12,570,250
2046 6,115,454 12,414,307
2045 6,099,562 12,257,874
2044 6,081,384 12,092,075
2043 6,062,477 11,931,531
2042 6,041,683 11,770,467
2041 6,017,573 11,602,993
2040 5,992,311 11,431,337
2039 5,967,604 11,262,807
2038 5,940,474 11,100,099
2037 5,912,327 10,931,629
2036 5,884,159 10,760,758
2035 5,855,902 10,585,702
2034 5,825,178 10,413,826
2033 5,792,751 10,241,196
2032 5,757,842 10,062,575
2031 5,721,671 9,883,708
2030 5,684,420 9,708,038
2029 5,644,008 9,532,000
2028 5,600,083 9,360,873
2027 5,553,725 9,179,702
2026 5,505,248 9,001,269
2025 5,452,752 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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) Ireland's population will grow by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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 1.06% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Ireland Sierra Leone
Current population
5518360
9049533
Population rank 121/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +497
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 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 - 39,059 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 48.2% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/ireland/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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