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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,366,734 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,704,252 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 13.5 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 1.59% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.28% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.03% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Japan vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Sierra Leone
2100 76,995,942 16,107,087
2099 77,380,486 16,121,940
2098 77,759,557 16,135,035
2097 78,135,569 16,149,905
2096 78,515,892 16,160,672
2095 78,892,606 16,169,304
2094 79,267,768 16,168,902
2093 79,645,584 16,173,609
2092 80,025,578 16,170,778
2091 80,401,222 16,163,901
2090 80,778,500 16,154,165
2089 81,158,413 16,142,526
2088 81,539,639 16,128,775
2087 81,926,401 16,112,585
2086 82,322,612 16,085,549
2085 82,727,738 16,064,212
2084 83,141,354 16,040,563
2083 83,562,394 16,006,923
2082 83,998,809 15,970,872
2081 84,447,888 15,930,880
2080 84,918,455 15,892,665
2079 85,406,042 15,850,728
2078 85,916,840 15,801,450
2077 86,453,316 15,750,408
2076 87,012,155 15,695,310
2075 87,597,053 15,635,345
2074 88,209,803 15,580,279
2073 88,854,316 15,512,655
2072 89,519,055 15,442,481
2071 90,204,314 15,370,747
2070 90,919,143 15,293,426
2069 91,645,589 15,212,664
2068 92,388,299 15,124,069
2067 93,133,993 15,028,190
2066 93,889,902 14,931,295
2065 94,654,259 14,833,794
2064 95,412,429 14,736,872
2063 96,169,244 14,638,180
2062 96,924,236 14,525,736
2061 97,675,525 14,420,068
2060 98,422,553 14,307,451
2059 99,166,038 14,194,972
2058 99,890,950 14,077,124
2057 100,607,740 13,957,197
2056 101,318,164 13,832,494
2055 102,012,184 13,702,508
2054 102,706,063 13,576,231
2053 103,381,833 13,440,929
2052 104,059,800 13,299,910
2051 104,729,745 13,152,910
2050 105,400,477 13,006,688
2049 106,076,354 12,863,637
2048 106,754,699 12,712,671
2047 107,442,881 12,566,944
2046 108,139,155 12,411,042
2045 108,844,934 12,254,651
2044 109,553,441 12,088,895
2043 110,269,851 11,928,393
2042 110,992,599 11,767,372
2041 111,729,216 11,599,942
2040 112,463,507 11,428,331
2039 113,200,859 11,259,845
2038 113,940,856 11,097,180
2037 114,687,611 10,928,754
2036 115,436,359 10,757,928
2035 116,187,949 10,582,918
2034 116,936,734 10,411,088
2033 117,678,572 10,238,503
2032 118,419,247 10,059,929
2031 119,153,646 9,881,109
2030 119,882,512 9,705,485
2029 120,600,781 9,529,493
2028 121,314,239 9,358,412
2027 122,015,984 9,177,288
2026 122,704,252 8,998,902
2025 123,366,734 8,819,794
2024 123,975,371 8,642,022
2023 124,516,650 8,460,512
2022 125,124,989 8,276,807
2021 125,681,593 8,094,602
2020 126,261,000 7,912,558
2019 126,633,000 7,731,991
2018 126,811,000 7,554,563
2017 126,972,000 7,379,299
2016 127,076,000 7,205,328
2015 127,141,000 7,037,655
2014 127,276,000 6,876,385
2013 127,445,000 6,714,051
2012 127,629,000 6,551,080
2011 127,833,000 6,387,251
2010 128,070,000 6,222,714
2009 128,047,000 6,055,646
2008 128,063,000 5,894,722
2007 128,001,000 5,749,352
2006 127,854,000 5,624,466
2005 127,773,000 5,501,712
2004 127,761,000 5,355,717
2003 127,718,000 5,177,687
2002 127,445,000 4,971,435
2001 127,149,000 4,692,716
2000 126,843,000 4,423,611
1999 126,631,000 4,318,043
1998 126,400,000 4,295,785
1997 126,057,000 4,253,716
1996 125,757,000 4,199,210
1995 125,472,000 4,179,179
1994 125,178,000 4,173,105
1993 124,829,000 4,157,130
1992 124,425,000 4,166,366
1991 123,964,000 4,246,267
1990 123,478,000 4,196,828
1989 123,069,000 4,034,037
1988 122,578,000 3,934,517
1987 122,069,000 3,829,718
1986 121,482,000 3,728,380
1985 120,837,000 3,638,438
1984 120,083,000 3,558,758
1983 119,307,000 3,481,646
1982 118,480,000 3,408,183
1981 117,661,000 3,338,940
1980 116,807,000 3,272,089
1979 115,890,000 3,207,499
1978 114,913,000 3,145,517
1977 113,872,000 3,085,354
1976 112,775,000 3,028,820
1975 111,573,000 2,974,657
1974 110,162,000 2,920,459
1973 108,707,000 2,866,955
1972 107,188,000 2,814,388
1971 105,697,000 2,763,222
1970 103,403,000 2,712,286
1969 102,219,000 2,661,365
1968 101,011,000 2,611,532
1967 99,879,000 2,562,384
1966 98,851,000 2,514,638
1965 97,952,000 2,468,666
1964 96,903,000 2,424,390
1963 95,900,000 2,382,258
1962 94,933,000 2,342,242
1961 94,055,000 2,304,227
1960 93,216,000 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/japan/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Sierra Leone
2100 -0.5% -0.09%
2099 -0.49% -0.08%
2098 -0.48% -0.09%
2097 -0.48% -0.07%
2096 -0.48% -0.05%
2095 -0.47% 0.002%
2094 -0.47% -0.03%
2093 -0.47% 0.02%
2092 -0.47% 0.04%
2091 -0.47% 0.06%
2090 -0.47% 0.07%
2089 -0.47% 0.09%
2088 -0.47% 0.1%
2087 -0.48% 0.17%
2086 -0.49% 0.13%
2085 -0.5% 0.15%
2084 -0.5% 0.21%
2083 -0.52% 0.23%
2082 -0.53% 0.25%
2081 -0.55% 0.24%
2080 -0.57% 0.26%
2079 -0.59% 0.31%
2078 -0.62% 0.32%
2077 -0.64% 0.35%
2076 -0.67% 0.38%
2075 -0.69% 0.35%
2074 -0.73% 0.44%
2073 -0.74% 0.45%
2072 -0.76% 0.47%
2071 -0.79% 0.51%
2070 -0.79% 0.53%
2069 -0.8% 0.59%
2068 -0.8% 0.64%
2067 -0.81% 0.65%
2066 -0.81% 0.66%
2065 -0.79% 0.66%
2064 -0.79% 0.67%
2063 -0.78% 0.77%
2062 -0.77% 0.73%
2061 -0.76% 0.79%
2060 -0.75% 0.79%
2059 -0.73% 0.84%
2058 -0.71% 0.86%
2057 -0.7% 0.9%
2056 -0.68% 0.95%
2055 -0.68% 0.93%
2054 -0.65% 1.01%
2053 -0.65% 1.06%
2052 -0.64% 1.12%
2051 -0.64% 1.12%
2050 -0.64% 1.11%
2049 -0.64% 1.19%
2048 -0.64% 1.16%
2047 -0.64% 1.26%
2046 -0.65% 1.28%
2045 -0.65% 1.37%
2044 -0.65% 1.35%
2043 -0.65% 1.37%
2042 -0.66% 1.44%
2041 -0.65% 1.5%
2040 -0.65% 1.5%
2039 -0.65% 1.47%
2038 -0.65% 1.54%
2037 -0.65% 1.59%
2036 -0.65% 1.65%
2035 -0.64% 1.65%
2034 -0.63% 1.69%
2033 -0.63% 1.78%
2032 -0.62% 1.81%
2031 -0.61% 1.81%
2030 -0.6% 1.85%
2029 -0.59% 1.83%
2028 -0.58% 1.97%
2027 -0.56% 1.98%
2026 -0.54% 2.03%
2025 -0.49% 2.06%
2024 -0.43% 2.15%
2023 -0.49% 2.22%
2022 -0.44% 2.25%
2021 -0.46% 2.3%
2020 -0.29% 2.34%
2019 -0.14% 2.35%
2018 -0.13% 2.38%
2017 -0.08% 2.41%
2016 -0.05% 2.38%
2015 -0.11% 2.35%
2014 -0.13% 2.42%
2013 -0.14% 2.49%
2012 -0.16% 2.56%
2011 -0.19% 2.64%
2010 0.02% 2.76%
2009 -0.01% 2.73%
2008 0.05% 2.53%
2007 0.11% 2.22%
2006 0.06% 2.23%
2005 0.009% 2.73%
2004 0.03% 3.44%
2003 0.21% 4.15%
2002 0.23% 5.94%
2001 0.24% 6.08%
2000 0.17% 2.44%
1999 0.18% 0.52%
1998 0.27% 0.99%
1997 0.24% 1.3%
1996 0.23% 0.48%
1995 0.23% 0.15%
1994 0.28% 0.38%
1993 0.32% -0.22%
1992 0.37% -1.88%
1991 0.39% 1.18%
1990 0.33% 4.04%
1989 0.4% 2.53%
1988 0.42% 2.74%
1987 0.48% 2.72%
1986 0.53% 2.47%
1985 0.63% 2.24%
1984 0.65% 2.21%
1983 0.7% 2.16%
1982 0.7% 2.07%
1981 0.73% 2.04%
1980 0.79% 2.01%
1979 0.85% 1.97%
1978 0.91% 1.95%
1977 0.97% 1.87%
1976 1.08% 1.82%
1975 1.28% 1.86%
1974 1.34% 1.87%
1973 1.42% 1.87%
1972 1.41% 1.85%
1971 2.22% 1.88%
1970 1.16% 1.91%
1969 1.2% 1.91%
1968 1.13% 1.92%
1967 1.04% 1.9%
1966 0.92% 1.86%
1965 1.08% 1.83%
1964 1.05% 1.77%
1963 1.02% 1.71%
1962 0.93% 1.65%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Japan declined by 0.49%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Japan Sierra Leone
Current population
122704252
9090531
Population rank 12/197 100/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.11%
One net population change
52 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
44.6 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
19.1 seconds
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,667 +487
Annual growth/decline -608,637 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate -0.49% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 183/197 47/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +140,579 -11,309
Net migration rank 10/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -11,309
2024 -942,213 153,357 189,234 -11,000
2023 -871,617 175,003 188,788 -4,000
2022 -825,825 175,003 186,625 -4,000
2021 -640,976 -34,996 183,326 -1,544
2020 -542,923 42,001 181,015 1,292
2019 -531,858 318,190 181,068 -2,238
2018 -456,520 320,601 178,772 -2,741
2017 -406,310 322,564 173,259 1,234
2016 -343,106 314,732 168,784 4,657
2015 -292,424 168,896 162,275 -356
2014 -267,279 58,109 160,137 485
2013 -242,146 66,449 161,265 2,773
2012 -229,733 67,904 160,915 988
2011 -204,533 97,720 158,858 6,895
2010 -128,070 131,860 155,338 7,983
2009 -76,828 125,450 152,669 18,145
2008 -51,225 142,605 149,855 1,182
2007 -25,600 138,024 145,740 -6,042
2006 12,785 130,065 144,127 -34,052
2005 -25,554 113,017 137,234 -1,805
2004 76,656 69,014 132,661 23,897
2003 114,946 74,875 130,312 69,185
2002 178,423 60,864 126,429 86,578
2001 203,438 59,563 116,647 227,791
2000 228,317 23,468 110,754 83,013
1999 202,610 56,901 102,295 -84,926
1998 265,440 45,912 103,906 -76,766
1997 277,325 43,366 105,433 -48,437
1996 314,392 25,030 104,140 -52,110
1995 276,039 87,714 100,885 -112,857
1994 363,017 154,214 101,486 -77,371
1993 312,073 168,836 103,317 -95,476
1992 360,833 170,878 103,251 -129,565
1991 396,685 161,331 105,477 -238,965
1990 407,478 124,582 100,778 131,587
1989 467,662 31,202 98,298 -5,079
1988 527,085 51,154 96,344 9,470
1987 598,138 28,001 94,235 9,558
1986 631,706 27,987 90,902 7,992
1985 676,687 -141,323 88,869 -7,873
1984 756,523 -273,686 87,072 -8,708
1983 775,495 -269,755 84,628 -8,783
1982 805,664 -288,550 82,457 -11,379
1981 811,861 -278,525 80,111 -12,699
1980 864,372 -92,314 77,932 -11,641
1979 950,298 -57,692 75,992 -13,095
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 74,130 -13,073
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 71,663 -12,399
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 69,506 -15,686
1975 1,204,989 107 67,560 -13,058
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 65,357 -11,473
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 62,443 -9,322
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 60,279 -8,267
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 58,484 -8,162
1970 1,230,496 33,731 56,513 -4,957
1969 1,195,962 49,447 54,768 -4,485
1968 1,191,930 43,593 53,126 -3,743
1967 1,258,475 29,632 51,734 -2,819
1966 682,072 68,934 49,486 -2,911
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 47,223 -1,851
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 45,487 -2,308
1963 987,770 -100,742 43,569 -2,480
1962 901,864 -57,075 41,603 -2,658
1961 893,522 -58,882 40,022 -2,947
1960 894,874 -150,371 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 75% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/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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