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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kenya was 56,432,944 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kenya's population is 58,955,623 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 6.51 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Kenya is ranked the 25th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.71% for Kenya vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Kenya has had an average growth rate of +2.08% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kenya has increased from 36.9M people to 59M (59.8% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Kenya vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kenya Sierra Leone
2100 105,238,162 16,111,324
2099 105,257,438 16,126,181
2098 105,257,489 16,139,280
2097 105,250,948 16,154,153
2096 105,220,085 16,164,923
2095 105,175,623 16,173,557
2094 105,118,372 16,173,155
2093 105,046,907 16,177,864
2092 104,955,024 16,175,032
2091 104,846,805 16,168,153
2090 104,718,130 16,158,415
2089 104,573,271 16,146,773
2088 104,414,197 16,133,018
2087 104,243,505 16,116,823
2086 104,056,143 16,089,780
2085 103,854,891 16,068,438
2084 103,640,244 16,044,782
2083 103,407,124 16,011,134
2082 103,158,580 15,975,073
2081 102,889,291 15,935,071
2080 102,594,978 15,896,846
2079 102,286,967 15,854,898
2078 101,961,280 15,805,607
2077 101,613,181 15,754,551
2076 101,239,843 15,699,439
2075 100,849,423 15,639,458
2074 100,436,632 15,584,377
2073 100,001,277 15,516,736
2072 99,533,234 15,446,543
2071 99,042,264 15,374,790
2070 98,529,166 15,297,449
2069 97,992,232 15,216,666
2068 97,428,138 15,128,048
2067 96,842,744 15,032,144
2066 96,230,345 14,935,222
2065 95,598,937 14,837,697
2064 94,942,874 14,740,749
2063 94,266,124 14,642,031
2062 93,561,519 14,529,557
2061 92,837,768 14,423,861
2060 92,098,717 14,311,215
2059 91,343,602 14,198,706
2058 90,569,828 14,080,827
2057 89,783,087 13,960,869
2056 88,994,126 13,836,132
2055 88,192,182 13,706,113
2054 87,379,992 13,579,802
2053 86,552,281 13,444,465
2052 85,710,403 13,303,409
2051 84,850,558 13,156,370
2050 83,976,685 13,010,109
2049 83,090,517 12,867,021
2048 82,191,119 12,716,015
2047 81,274,836 12,570,250
2046 80,340,592 12,414,307
2045 79,389,433 12,257,874
2044 78,414,158 12,092,075
2043 77,418,567 11,931,531
2042 76,399,781 11,770,467
2041 75,363,853 11,602,993
2040 74,308,480 11,431,337
2039 73,241,028 11,262,807
2038 72,153,876 11,100,099
2037 71,058,753 10,931,629
2036 69,949,421 10,760,758
2035 68,831,151 10,585,702
2034 67,705,051 10,413,826
2033 66,569,532 10,241,196
2032 65,431,402 10,062,575
2031 64,289,540 9,883,708
2030 63,153,520 9,708,038
2029 62,021,378 9,532,000
2028 60,894,078 9,360,873
2027 59,770,115 9,179,702
2026 58,653,621 9,001,269
2025 57,540,609 8,822,114
2024 56,432,944 8,642,022
2023 55,339,003 8,460,512
2022 54,252,461 8,276,807
2021 53,219,166 8,094,602
2020 52,217,334 7,912,558
2019 51,202,827 7,731,991
2018 50,207,107 7,554,563
2017 49,197,766 7,379,299
2016 48,139,687 7,205,328
2015 47,088,526 7,037,655
2014 46,051,440 6,876,385
2013 44,986,791 6,714,051
2012 43,888,303 6,551,080
2011 42,758,461 6,387,251
2010 41,598,567 6,222,714
2009 40,408,891 6,055,646
2008 39,206,351 5,894,722
2007 38,036,349 5,749,352
2006 36,904,008 5,624,466
2005 35,796,484 5,501,712
2004 34,713,455 5,355,717
2003 33,652,223 5,177,687
2002 32,629,808 4,971,435
2001 31,619,170 4,692,716
2000 30,642,890 4,423,611
1999 29,733,408 4,318,043
1998 28,888,057 4,295,785
1997 28,101,768 4,253,716
1996 27,344,211 4,199,210
1995 26,601,751 4,179,179
1994 25,857,130 4,173,105
1993 25,117,188 4,157,130
1992 24,382,460 4,166,366
1991 23,646,514 4,246,267
1990 22,892,651 4,196,828
1989 22,118,434 4,034,037
1988 21,356,219 3,934,517
1987 20,616,096 3,829,718
1986 19,901,646 3,728,380
1985 19,201,768 3,638,438
1984 18,514,906 3,558,758
1983 17,846,374 3,481,646
1982 17,206,175 3,408,183
1981 16,601,507 3,338,940
1980 16,018,459 3,272,089
1979 15,460,666 3,207,499
1978 14,934,126 3,145,517
1977 14,428,819 3,085,354
1976 13,957,623 3,028,820
1975 13,511,671 2,974,657
1974 13,070,078 2,920,459
1973 12,634,835 2,866,955
1972 12,206,060 2,814,388
1971 11,788,904 2,763,222
1970 11,368,791 2,712,286
1969 10,939,695 2,661,365
1968 10,518,823 2,611,532
1967 10,111,057 2,562,384
1966 9,717,816 2,514,638
1965 9,338,078 2,468,666
1964 8,973,535 2,424,390
1963 8,627,971 2,382,258
1962 8,299,308 2,342,242
1961 7,987,770 2,304,227
1960 7,695,307 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/kenya/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kenya increased by 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kenya gained 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Kenya was ranked 33rd most populous country in 2006 and is 25th 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) Kenya's population will grow by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people with a rank change from 25th to 22nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Kenya
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kenya Sierra Leone
2100 -0.02% -0.09%
2099 -0% -0.08%
2098 0.006% -0.09%
2097 0.03% -0.07%
2096 0.04% -0.05%
2095 0.05% 0.002%
2094 0.07% -0.03%
2093 0.09% 0.02%
2092 0.1% 0.04%
2091 0.12% 0.06%
2090 0.14% 0.07%
2089 0.15% 0.09%
2088 0.16% 0.1%
2087 0.18% 0.17%
2086 0.19% 0.13%
2085 0.21% 0.15%
2084 0.23% 0.21%
2083 0.24% 0.23%
2082 0.26% 0.25%
2081 0.29% 0.24%
2080 0.3% 0.26%
2079 0.32% 0.31%
2078 0.34% 0.32%
2077 0.37% 0.35%
2076 0.39% 0.38%
2075 0.41% 0.35%
2074 0.44% 0.44%
2073 0.47% 0.45%
2072 0.5% 0.47%
2071 0.52% 0.51%
2070 0.55% 0.53%
2069 0.58% 0.59%
2068 0.6% 0.64%
2067 0.64% 0.65%
2066 0.66% 0.66%
2065 0.69% 0.66%
2064 0.72% 0.67%
2063 0.75% 0.77%
2062 0.78% 0.73%
2061 0.8% 0.79%
2060 0.83% 0.79%
2059 0.85% 0.84%
2058 0.88% 0.86%
2057 0.89% 0.9%
2056 0.91% 0.95%
2055 0.93% 0.93%
2054 0.96% 1.01%
2053 0.98% 1.06%
2052 1.01% 1.12%
2051 1.04% 1.12%
2050 1.07% 1.11%
2049 1.09% 1.19%
2048 1.13% 1.16%
2047 1.16% 1.26%
2046 1.2% 1.28%
2045 1.24% 1.37%
2044 1.29% 1.35%
2043 1.33% 1.37%
2042 1.37% 1.44%
2041 1.42% 1.5%
2040 1.46% 1.5%
2039 1.51% 1.47%
2038 1.54% 1.54%
2037 1.59% 1.59%
2036 1.62% 1.65%
2035 1.66% 1.65%
2034 1.71% 1.69%
2033 1.74% 1.78%
2032 1.78% 1.81%
2031 1.8% 1.81%
2030 1.83% 1.85%
2029 1.85% 1.83%
2028 1.88% 1.97%
2027 1.9% 1.98%
2026 1.93% 2.03%
2025 1.96% 2.08%
2024 1.98% 2.15%
2023 2% 2.22%
2022 1.94% 2.25%
2021 1.92% 2.3%
2020 1.98% 2.34%
2019 1.98% 2.35%
2018 2.05% 2.38%
2017 2.2% 2.41%
2016 2.23% 2.38%
2015 2.25% 2.35%
2014 2.37% 2.42%
2013 2.5% 2.49%
2012 2.64% 2.56%
2011 2.79% 2.64%
2010 2.94% 2.76%
2009 3.07% 2.73%
2008 3.08% 2.53%
2007 3.07% 2.22%
2006 3.09% 2.23%
2005 3.12% 2.73%
2004 3.15% 3.44%
2003 3.13% 4.15%
2002 3.2% 5.94%
2001 3.19% 6.08%
2000 3.06% 2.44%
1999 2.93% 0.52%
1998 2.8% 0.99%
1997 2.77% 1.3%
1996 2.79% 0.48%
1995 2.88% 0.15%
1994 2.95% 0.38%
1993 3.01% -0.22%
1992 3.11% -1.88%
1991 3.29% 1.18%
1990 3.5% 4.04%
1989 3.57% 2.53%
1988 3.59% 2.74%
1987 3.59% 2.72%
1986 3.64% 2.47%
1985 3.71% 2.24%
1984 3.75% 2.21%
1983 3.72% 2.16%
1982 3.64% 2.07%
1981 3.64% 2.04%
1980 3.61% 2.01%
1979 3.53% 1.97%
1978 3.5% 1.95%
1977 3.38% 1.87%
1976 3.3% 1.82%
1975 3.38% 1.86%
1974 3.44% 1.87%
1973 3.51% 1.87%
1972 3.54% 1.85%
1971 3.7% 1.88%
1970 3.92% 1.91%
1969 4% 1.91%
1968 4.03% 1.92%
1967 4.05% 1.9%
1966 4.07% 1.86%
1965 4.06% 1.83%
1964 4.01% 1.77%
1963 3.96% 1.71%
1962 3.9% 1.65%
1961 3.8% 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/kenya/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kenya grew by 1.98%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Kenya Sierra Leone
Current population
58955623
9049533
Population rank 25/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.71% 0.11%
One net population change
28.8 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
21 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
1.32 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,997 +497
Annual growth/decline +1,093,941 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.98% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 53/197 47/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -27,330 -11,309
Net migration rank 160/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 992,536 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 61/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 136/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kenya
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kenya Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,330 - -11,309
2024 - -19,781 - -11,000
2023 1,100,970 -10,003 188,788 -4,000
2022 1,092,102 -10,003 186,625 -4,000
2021 1,037,082 -52,552 183,326 -1,544
2020 1,036,253 -17,111 181,015 1,292
2019 1,071,777 -61,949 181,068 -2,238
2018 1,097,075 -115,436 178,772 -2,741
2017 1,105,769 -68,702 173,259 1,234
2016 1,108,801 -29,728 168,784 4,657
2015 1,119,200 -95,977 162,275 -356
2014 1,123,333 -72,415 160,137 485
2013 1,136,006 -57,634 161,265 2,773
2012 1,161,548 -42,928 160,915 988
2011 1,185,863 -44,795 158,858 6,895
2010 1,199,786 -21,069 155,338 7,983
2009 1,193,598 7,096 152,669 18,145
2008 1,174,818 29,612 149,855 1,182
2007 1,147,063 -11,495 145,740 -6,042
2006 1,113,357 15,767 144,127 -34,052
2005 1,080,446 5,501 137,234 -1,805
2004 1,048,590 31,525 132,661 23,897
2003 1,018,182 24,175 130,312 69,185
2002 992,044 10,431 126,429 86,578
2001 963,721 55,052 116,647 227,791
2000 928,357 5,407 110,754 83,013
1999 898,484 -13,257 102,295 -84,926
1998 875,511 -70,023 103,906 -76,766
1997 847,493 -80,443 105,433 -48,437
1996 827,326 -79,276 104,140 -52,110
1995 812,391 -75,506 100,885 -112,857
1994 792,702 -40,367 101,486 -77,371
1993 788,579 -61,054 103,317 -95,476
1992 785,018 -43,085 103,251 -129,565
1991 790,030 -60,087 105,477 -238,965
1990 789,087 -11,338 100,778 131,587
1989 795,622 -24,949 98,298 -5,079
1988 785,652 -31,894 96,344 9,470
1987 775,124 -48,633 94,235 9,558
1986 755,606 -53,183 90,902 7,992
1985 732,739 -35,400 88,869 -7,873
1984 709,639 -33,253 87,072 -8,708
1983 684,587 -23,905 84,628 -8,783
1982 663,109 -43,382 82,457 -11,379
1981 642,379 -52,761 80,111 -12,699
1980 616,390 -39,920 77,932 -11,641
1979 595,390 -56,280 75,992 -13,095
1978 574,695 -60,718 74,130 -13,073
1977 554,124 -57,493 71,663 -12,399
1976 536,740 -90,990 69,506 -15,686
1975 517,579 -71,421 67,560 -13,058
1974 500,008 -62,973 65,357 -11,473
1973 485,556 -52,102 62,443 -9,322
1972 472,557 -48,466 60,279 -8,267
1971 459,897 -49,671 58,484 -8,162
1970 443,065 -13,064 56,513 -4,957
1969 427,819 369 54,768 -4,485
1968 411,948 1,611 53,126 -3,743
1967 396,920 5,060 51,734 -2,819
1966 382,891 1,616 49,486 -2,911
1965 366,444 8,524 47,223 -1,851
1964 349,322 4,788 45,487 -2,308
1963 332,763 4,246 43,569 -2,480
1962 315,797 4,521 41,603 -2,658
1961 298,463 4,296 40,022 -2,947
1960 280,032 2,134 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.3% of the population change in Kenya is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 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, 992,536 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in Kenya, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K
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/kenya/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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