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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 9,049,533 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 101st.
  • 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 +1.48% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Laos vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Sierra Leone
2100 9,342,607 16,111,324
2099 9,389,481 16,126,181
2098 9,435,427 16,139,280
2097 9,480,219 16,154,153
2096 9,524,052 16,164,923
2095 9,567,045 16,173,557
2094 9,609,471 16,173,155
2093 9,651,065 16,177,864
2092 9,691,590 16,175,032
2091 9,731,446 16,168,153
2090 9,770,116 16,158,415
2089 9,807,690 16,146,773
2088 9,844,143 16,133,018
2087 9,879,110 16,116,823
2086 9,912,903 16,089,780
2085 9,945,223 16,068,438
2084 9,975,614 16,044,782
2083 10,005,023 16,011,134
2082 10,032,558 15,975,073
2081 10,058,731 15,935,071
2080 10,083,222 15,896,846
2079 10,106,703 15,854,898
2078 10,128,372 15,805,607
2077 10,148,533 15,754,551
2076 10,165,829 15,699,439
2075 10,182,062 15,639,458
2074 10,196,505 15,584,377
2073 10,208,837 15,516,736
2072 10,218,581 15,446,543
2071 10,225,726 15,374,790
2070 10,231,909 15,297,449
2069 10,235,317 15,216,666
2068 10,235,668 15,128,048
2067 10,233,930 15,032,144
2066 10,228,744 14,935,222
2065 10,222,027 14,837,697
2064 10,212,674 14,740,749
2063 10,200,753 14,642,031
2062 10,186,526 14,529,557
2061 10,169,161 14,423,861
2060 10,149,107 14,311,215
2059 10,126,671 14,198,706
2058 10,100,989 14,080,827
2057 10,072,578 13,960,869
2056 10,041,736 13,836,132
2055 10,008,916 13,706,113
2054 9,972,602 13,579,802
2053 9,933,363 13,444,465
2052 9,891,383 13,303,409
2051 9,846,656 13,156,370
2050 9,799,766 13,010,109
2049 9,750,669 12,867,021
2048 9,697,931 12,716,015
2047 9,643,484 12,570,250
2046 9,586,249 12,414,307
2045 9,527,029 12,257,874
2044 9,465,046 12,092,075
2043 9,401,665 11,931,531
2042 9,334,890 11,770,467
2041 9,266,149 11,602,993
2040 9,195,755 11,431,337
2039 9,122,969 11,262,807
2038 9,046,689 11,100,099
2037 8,968,700 10,931,629
2036 8,888,903 10,760,758
2035 8,807,373 10,585,702
2034 8,723,937 10,413,826
2033 8,638,238 10,241,196
2032 8,550,017 10,062,575
2031 8,459,669 9,883,708
2030 8,367,305 9,708,038
2029 8,273,173 9,532,000
2028 8,176,811 9,360,873
2027 8,078,122 9,179,702
2026 7,977,666 9,001,269
2025 7,874,813 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd 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) Laos' population will grow by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 1.35% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Laos Sierra Leone
Current population
8004838
9049533
Population rank 103/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.11%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +497
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 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 - -10,284 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.6% of the population change in Laos is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/laos/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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