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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.13 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Laos vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Sierra Leone
2100 9,340,510 16,107,087
2099 9,387,374 16,121,940
2098 9,433,309 16,135,035
2097 9,478,091 16,149,905
2096 9,521,914 16,160,672
2095 9,564,898 16,169,304
2094 9,607,314 16,168,902
2093 9,648,899 16,173,609
2092 9,689,414 16,170,778
2091 9,729,262 16,163,901
2090 9,767,923 16,154,165
2089 9,805,489 16,142,526
2088 9,841,933 16,128,775
2087 9,876,893 16,112,585
2086 9,910,678 16,085,549
2085 9,942,991 16,064,212
2084 9,973,375 16,040,563
2083 10,002,778 16,006,923
2082 10,030,306 15,970,872
2081 10,056,473 15,930,880
2080 10,080,959 15,892,665
2079 10,104,434 15,850,728
2078 10,126,099 15,801,450
2077 10,146,255 15,750,408
2076 10,163,547 15,695,310
2075 10,179,776 15,635,345
2074 10,194,216 15,580,279
2073 10,206,546 15,512,655
2072 10,216,287 15,442,481
2071 10,223,430 15,370,747
2070 10,229,612 15,293,426
2069 10,233,020 15,212,664
2068 10,233,371 15,124,069
2067 10,231,633 15,028,190
2066 10,226,448 14,931,295
2065 10,219,732 14,833,794
2064 10,210,382 14,736,872
2063 10,198,463 14,638,180
2062 10,184,239 14,525,736
2061 10,166,878 14,420,068
2060 10,146,829 14,307,451
2059 10,124,398 14,194,972
2058 10,098,721 14,077,124
2057 10,070,317 13,957,197
2056 10,039,482 13,832,494
2055 10,006,669 13,702,508
2054 9,970,363 13,576,231
2053 9,931,133 13,440,929
2052 9,889,162 13,299,910
2051 9,844,445 13,152,910
2050 9,797,566 13,006,688
2049 9,748,481 12,863,637
2048 9,695,755 12,712,671
2047 9,641,319 12,566,944
2046 9,584,097 12,411,042
2045 9,524,890 12,254,651
2044 9,462,921 12,088,895
2043 9,399,555 11,928,393
2042 9,332,795 11,767,372
2041 9,264,069 11,599,942
2040 9,193,691 11,428,331
2039 9,120,921 11,259,845
2038 9,044,658 11,097,180
2037 8,966,687 10,928,754
2036 8,886,908 10,757,928
2035 8,805,396 10,582,918
2034 8,721,979 10,411,088
2033 8,636,299 10,238,503
2032 8,548,097 10,059,929
2031 8,457,770 9,881,109
2030 8,365,427 9,705,485
2029 8,271,316 9,529,493
2028 8,174,975 9,358,412
2027 8,076,308 9,177,288
2026 7,975,876 8,998,902
2025 7,873,046 8,819,794
2024 7,769,819 8,642,022
2023 7,664,993 8,460,512
2022 7,559,007 8,276,807
2021 7,453,194 8,094,602
2020 7,346,533 7,912,558
2019 7,237,636 7,731,991
2018 7,128,045 7,554,563
2017 7,018,147 7,379,299
2016 6,908,802 7,205,328
2015 6,801,645 7,037,655
2014 6,703,172 6,876,385
2013 6,611,385 6,714,051
2012 6,518,978 6,551,080
2011 6,426,590 6,387,251
2010 6,334,194 6,222,714
2009 6,241,642 6,055,646
2008 6,148,969 5,894,722
2007 6,056,236 5,749,352
2006 5,963,200 5,624,466
2005 5,869,523 5,501,712
2004 5,781,626 5,355,717
2003 5,697,945 5,177,687
2002 5,610,889 4,971,435
2001 5,521,482 4,692,716
2000 5,431,212 4,423,611
1999 5,340,784 4,318,043
1998 5,248,266 4,295,785
1997 5,152,011 4,253,716
1996 5,045,678 4,199,210
1995 4,929,409 4,179,179
1994 4,809,220 4,173,105
1993 4,685,060 4,157,130
1992 4,559,646 4,166,366
1991 4,435,118 4,246,267
1990 4,311,955 4,196,828
1989 4,190,974 4,034,037
1988 4,072,601 3,934,517
1987 3,957,612 3,829,718
1986 3,846,715 3,728,380
1985 3,739,985 3,638,438
1984 3,637,843 3,558,758
1983 3,541,001 3,481,646
1982 3,450,026 3,408,183
1981 3,366,631 3,338,940
1980 3,292,573 3,272,089
1979 3,228,202 3,207,499
1978 3,171,740 3,145,517
1977 3,118,923 3,085,354
1976 3,064,876 3,028,820
1975 3,005,521 2,974,657
1974 2,939,761 2,920,459
1973 2,870,573 2,866,955
1972 2,801,660 2,814,388
1971 2,734,628 2,763,222
1970 2,669,702 2,712,286
1969 2,606,959 2,661,365
1968 2,546,377 2,611,532
1967 2,487,715 2,562,384
1966 2,431,084 2,514,638
1965 2,376,200 2,468,666
1964 2,322,826 2,424,390
1963 2,271,061 2,382,258
1962 2,219,910 2,342,242
1961 2,169,796 2,304,227
1960 2,121,514 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/laos/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd 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) Laos' population will grow by 22.1% to 9,797,566 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Sierra Leone
2100 -0.5% -0.09%
2099 -0.49% -0.08%
2098 -0.47% -0.09%
2097 -0.46% -0.07%
2096 -0.45% -0.05%
2095 -0.44% 0.002%
2094 -0.43% -0.03%
2093 -0.42% 0.02%
2092 -0.41% 0.04%
2091 -0.4% 0.06%
2090 -0.38% 0.07%
2089 -0.37% 0.09%
2088 -0.35% 0.1%
2087 -0.34% 0.17%
2086 -0.32% 0.13%
2085 -0.3% 0.15%
2084 -0.29% 0.21%
2083 -0.27% 0.23%
2082 -0.26% 0.25%
2081 -0.24% 0.24%
2080 -0.23% 0.26%
2079 -0.21% 0.31%
2078 -0.2% 0.32%
2077 -0.17% 0.35%
2076 -0.16% 0.38%
2075 -0.14% 0.35%
2074 -0.12% 0.44%
2073 -0.1% 0.45%
2072 -0.07% 0.47%
2071 -0.06% 0.51%
2070 -0.03% 0.53%
2069 -0.003% 0.59%
2068 0.02% 0.64%
2067 0.05% 0.65%
2066 0.07% 0.66%
2065 0.09% 0.66%
2064 0.12% 0.67%
2063 0.14% 0.77%
2062 0.17% 0.73%
2061 0.2% 0.79%
2060 0.22% 0.79%
2059 0.25% 0.84%
2058 0.28% 0.86%
2057 0.31% 0.9%
2056 0.33% 0.95%
2055 0.36% 0.93%
2054 0.4% 1.01%
2053 0.42% 1.06%
2052 0.45% 1.12%
2051 0.48% 1.12%
2050 0.5% 1.11%
2049 0.54% 1.19%
2048 0.56% 1.16%
2047 0.6% 1.26%
2046 0.62% 1.28%
2045 0.65% 1.37%
2044 0.67% 1.35%
2043 0.72% 1.37%
2042 0.74% 1.44%
2041 0.77% 1.5%
2040 0.8% 1.5%
2039 0.84% 1.47%
2038 0.87% 1.54%
2037 0.9% 1.59%
2036 0.93% 1.65%
2035 0.96% 1.65%
2034 0.99% 1.69%
2033 1.03% 1.78%
2032 1.07% 1.81%
2031 1.1% 1.81%
2030 1.14% 1.85%
2029 1.18% 1.83%
2028 1.22% 1.97%
2027 1.26% 1.98%
2026 1.31% 2.03%
2025 1.33% 2.06%
2024 1.37% 2.15%
2023 1.4% 2.22%
2022 1.42% 2.25%
2021 1.45% 2.3%
2020 1.5% 2.34%
2019 1.54% 2.35%
2018 1.57% 2.38%
2017 1.58% 2.41%
2016 1.58% 2.38%
2015 1.47% 2.35%
2014 1.39% 2.42%
2013 1.42% 2.49%
2012 1.44% 2.56%
2011 1.46% 2.64%
2010 1.48% 2.76%
2009 1.51% 2.73%
2008 1.53% 2.53%
2007 1.56% 2.22%
2006 1.6% 2.23%
2005 1.52% 2.73%
2004 1.47% 3.44%
2003 1.55% 4.15%
2002 1.62% 5.94%
2001 1.66% 6.08%
2000 1.69% 2.44%
1999 1.76% 0.52%
1998 1.87% 0.99%
1997 2.11% 1.3%
1996 2.36% 0.48%
1995 2.5% 0.15%
1994 2.65% 0.38%
1993 2.75% -0.22%
1992 2.81% -1.88%
1991 2.86% 1.18%
1990 2.89% 4.04%
1989 2.91% 2.53%
1988 2.91% 2.74%
1987 2.88% 2.72%
1986 2.85% 2.47%
1985 2.81% 2.24%
1984 2.73% 2.21%
1983 2.64% 2.16%
1982 2.48% 2.07%
1981 2.25% 2.04%
1980 1.99% 2.01%
1979 1.78% 1.97%
1978 1.69% 1.95%
1977 1.76% 1.87%
1976 1.97% 1.82%
1975 2.24% 1.86%
1974 2.41% 1.87%
1973 2.46% 1.87%
1972 2.45% 1.85%
1971 2.43% 1.88%
1970 2.41% 1.91%
1969 2.38% 1.91%
1968 2.36% 1.92%
1967 2.33% 1.9%
1966 2.31% 1.86%
1965 2.3% 1.83%
1964 2.28% 1.77%
1963 2.3% 1.71%
1962 2.31% 1.65%
1961 2.28% 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/laos/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Laos Sierra Leone
Current population
8027464
9090531
Population rank 103/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.11%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +487
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 47/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 -11,309
Net migration rank 134/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -11,309
2024 114,574 -10,284 189,234 -11,000
2023 115,359 -10,003 188,788 -4,000
2022 116,620 -10,003 186,625 -4,000
2021 115,323 -10,305 183,326 -1,544
2020 118,609 -10,305 181,015 1,292
2019 119,797 -10,305 181,068 -2,238
2018 119,986 -10,305 178,772 -2,741
2017 120,515 -10,400 173,259 1,234
2016 119,978 -11,401 168,784 4,657
2015 118,723 -12,991 162,275 -356
2014 118,103 -26,881 160,137 485
2013 119,845 -27,492 161,265 2,773
2012 121,324 -28,871 160,915 988
2011 122,863 -30,538 158,858 6,895
2010 122,516 -30,046 155,338 7,983
2009 122,174 -29,545 152,669 18,145
2008 121,042 -28,318 149,855 1,182
2007 119,980 -27,233 145,740 -6,042
2006 118,602 -25,286 144,127 -34,052
2005 118,165 -24,138 137,234 -1,805
2004 121,888 -40,120 132,661 23,897
2003 122,158 -36,572 130,312 69,185
2002 122,110 -33,595 126,429 86,578
2001 123,847 -33,552 116,647 227,791
2000 124,201 -33,965 110,754 83,013
1999 127,255 -36,632 102,295 -84,926
1998 128,409 -33,997 103,906 -76,766
1997 130,388 -32,288 105,433 -48,437
1996 131,142 -16,574 104,140 -52,110
1995 132,241 -14,279 100,885 -112,857
1994 134,201 -11,782 101,486 -77,371
1993 135,295 -9,390 103,317 -95,476
1992 132,417 -7,502 103,251 -129,565
1991 129,523 -5,390 105,477 -238,965
1990 125,297 -3,100 100,778 131,587
1989 121,044 -1,272 98,298 -5,079
1988 117,050 -80 96,344 9,470
1987 113,005 0 94,235 9,558
1986 109,266 -475 90,902 7,992
1985 106,047 -1,376 88,869 -7,873
1984 102,318 -2,698 87,072 -8,708
1983 98,178 -4,108 84,628 -8,783
1982 94,058 -6,184 82,457 -11,379
1981 89,963 -11,061 80,111 -12,699
1980 86,548 -17,339 77,932 -11,641
1979 82,852 -23,317 75,992 -13,095
1978 80,604 -27,208 74,130 -13,073
1977 79,149 -26,908 71,663 -12,399
1976 77,575 -21,738 69,506 -15,686
1975 76,725 -13,858 67,560 -13,058
1974 74,652 -6,000 65,357 -11,473
1973 70,513 -774 62,443 -9,322
1972 68,095 0 60,279 -8,267
1971 65,959 0 58,484 -8,162
1970 63,896 0 56,513 -4,957
1969 61,595 0 54,768 -4,485
1968 59,567 0 53,126 -3,743
1967 57,763 0 51,734 -2,819
1966 55,494 0 49,486 -2,911
1965 54,268 0 47,223 -1,851
1964 52,482 0 45,487 -2,308
1963 51,056 0 43,569 -2,480
1962 51,244 0 41,603 -2,658
1961 48,992 0 40,022 -2,947
1960 47,575 0 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Laos is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 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, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
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/laos/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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