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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Liberia was 5,612,817 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Liberia's population is 5,887,000 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.54 times bigger than Liberia's.
  • Liberia is ranked the 116th 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 Liberia vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Liberia has had an average growth rate of +2.09% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Liberia has increased from 3.49M people to 5.89M (68.6% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Liberia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Liberia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Liberia Sierra Leone
2100 12,788,823 16,111,324
2099 12,776,207 16,126,181
2098 12,757,308 16,139,280
2097 12,728,620 16,154,153
2096 12,695,873 16,164,923
2095 12,671,037 16,173,557
2094 12,645,345 16,173,155
2093 12,607,806 16,177,864
2092 12,583,276 16,175,032
2091 12,557,861 16,168,153
2090 12,513,262 16,158,415
2089 12,461,083 16,146,773
2088 12,429,523 16,133,018
2087 12,394,685 16,116,823
2086 12,331,734 16,089,780
2085 12,266,313 16,068,438
2084 12,218,274 16,044,782
2083 12,163,782 16,011,134
2082 12,122,513 15,975,073
2081 12,055,108 15,935,071
2080 11,977,065 15,896,846
2079 11,899,224 15,854,898
2078 11,823,772 15,805,607
2077 11,746,009 15,754,551
2076 11,657,329 15,699,439
2075 11,571,881 15,639,458
2074 11,469,695 15,584,377
2073 11,373,802 15,516,736
2072 11,288,250 15,446,543
2071 11,187,594 15,374,790
2070 11,097,891 15,297,449
2069 11,002,270 15,216,666
2068 10,918,600 15,128,048
2067 10,814,021 15,032,144
2066 10,721,693 14,935,222
2065 10,617,436 14,837,697
2064 10,521,037 14,740,749
2063 10,416,221 14,642,031
2062 10,308,855 14,529,557
2061 10,200,557 14,423,861
2060 10,091,553 14,311,215
2059 9,960,069 14,198,706
2058 9,857,338 14,080,827
2057 9,745,295 13,960,869
2056 9,624,041 13,836,132
2055 9,506,843 13,706,113
2054 9,402,297 13,579,802
2053 9,284,854 13,444,465
2052 9,173,091 13,303,409
2051 9,060,243 13,156,370
2050 8,951,514 13,010,109
2049 8,828,384 12,867,021
2048 8,705,146 12,716,015
2047 8,581,923 12,570,250
2046 8,456,286 12,414,307
2045 8,342,861 12,257,874
2044 8,220,755 12,092,075
2043 8,106,429 11,931,531
2042 7,972,152 11,770,467
2041 7,829,310 11,602,993
2040 7,698,463 11,431,337
2039 7,554,021 11,262,807
2038 7,421,960 11,100,099
2037 7,291,328 10,931,629
2036 7,146,172 10,760,758
2035 7,010,827 10,585,702
2034 6,883,638 10,413,826
2033 6,750,553 10,241,196
2032 6,619,507 10,062,575
2031 6,492,799 9,883,708
2030 6,376,029 9,708,038
2029 6,247,795 9,532,000
2028 6,120,673 9,360,873
2027 5,981,051 9,179,702
2026 5,852,128 9,001,269
2025 5,732,938 8,822,114
2024 5,612,817 8,642,022
2023 5,493,031 8,460,512
2022 5,373,294 8,276,807
2021 5,259,323 8,094,602
2020 5,149,463 7,912,558
2019 5,043,721 7,731,991
2018 4,944,726 7,554,563
2017 4,848,925 7,379,299
2016 4,755,608 7,205,328
2015 4,659,431 7,037,655
2014 4,564,293 6,876,385
2013 4,470,239 6,714,051
2012 4,373,043 6,551,080
2011 4,221,178 6,387,251
2010 4,058,890 6,222,714
2009 3,943,028 6,055,646
2008 3,821,003 5,894,722
2007 3,669,050 5,749,352
2006 3,490,787 5,624,466
2005 3,301,015 5,501,712
2004 3,156,892 5,355,717
2003 3,119,532 5,177,687
2002 3,094,782 4,971,435
2001 3,015,338 4,692,716
2000 2,928,117 4,423,611
1999 2,821,684 4,318,043
1998 2,670,124 4,295,785
1997 2,412,989 4,253,716
1996 2,232,289 4,199,210
1995 2,169,162 4,179,179
1994 2,149,928 4,173,105
1993 2,155,126 4,157,130
1992 2,072,461 4,166,366
1991 1,956,518 4,246,267
1990 2,223,667 4,196,828
1989 2,517,858 4,034,037
1988 2,446,941 3,934,517
1987 2,377,229 3,829,718
1986 2,308,511 3,728,380
1985 2,240,539 3,638,438
1984 2,173,312 3,558,758
1983 2,107,113 3,481,646
1982 2,045,073 3,408,183
1981 1,986,867 3,338,940
1980 1,929,253 3,272,089
1979 1,872,713 3,207,499
1978 1,818,247 3,145,517
1977 1,766,019 3,085,354
1976 1,717,060 3,028,820
1975 1,670,913 2,974,657
1974 1,626,362 2,920,459
1973 1,583,588 2,866,955
1972 1,542,670 2,814,388
1971 1,504,077 2,763,222
1970 1,466,676 2,712,286
1969 1,429,605 2,661,365
1968 1,393,530 2,611,532
1967 1,358,435 2,562,384
1966 1,324,383 2,514,638
1965 1,291,156 2,468,666
1964 1,258,745 2,424,390
1963 1,227,414 2,382,258
1962 1,197,039 2,342,242
1961 1,167,717 2,304,227
1960 1,139,522 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/liberia/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Liberia increased by 1,264,821 people (a 36.2% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Liberia gained 1,131,392 people (a 23.8% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Liberia was ranked 126th most populous country in 2006 and is 116th 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) Liberia's population will grow by 52.1% to 8,951,514 people with a rank change from 116th to 107th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Liberia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 12.8M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Liberia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Liberia Sierra Leone
2100 0.1% -0.09%
2099 0.15% -0.08%
2098 0.23% -0.09%
2097 0.26% -0.07%
2096 0.2% -0.05%
2095 0.2% 0.002%
2094 0.3% -0.03%
2093 0.19% 0.02%
2092 0.2% 0.04%
2091 0.36% 0.06%
2090 0.42% 0.07%
2089 0.25% 0.09%
2088 0.28% 0.1%
2087 0.51% 0.17%
2086 0.53% 0.13%
2085 0.39% 0.15%
2084 0.45% 0.21%
2083 0.34% 0.23%
2082 0.56% 0.25%
2081 0.65% 0.24%
2080 0.65% 0.26%
2079 0.64% 0.31%
2078 0.66% 0.32%
2077 0.76% 0.35%
2076 0.74% 0.38%
2075 0.89% 0.35%
2074 0.84% 0.44%
2073 0.76% 0.45%
2072 0.9% 0.47%
2071 0.81% 0.51%
2070 0.87% 0.53%
2069 0.77% 0.59%
2068 0.97% 0.64%
2067 0.86% 0.65%
2066 0.98% 0.66%
2065 0.92% 0.66%
2064 1.01% 0.67%
2063 1.04% 0.77%
2062 1.06% 0.73%
2061 1.08% 0.79%
2060 1.32% 0.79%
2059 1.04% 0.84%
2058 1.15% 0.86%
2057 1.26% 0.9%
2056 1.23% 0.95%
2055 1.11% 0.93%
2054 1.26% 1.01%
2053 1.22% 1.06%
2052 1.25% 1.12%
2051 1.21% 1.12%
2050 1.39% 1.11%
2049 1.42% 1.19%
2048 1.44% 1.16%
2047 1.49% 1.26%
2046 1.36% 1.28%
2045 1.49% 1.37%
2044 1.41% 1.35%
2043 1.68% 1.37%
2042 1.82% 1.44%
2041 1.7% 1.5%
2040 1.91% 1.5%
2039 1.78% 1.47%
2038 1.79% 1.54%
2037 2.03% 1.59%
2036 1.93% 1.65%
2035 1.85% 1.65%
2034 1.97% 1.69%
2033 1.98% 1.78%
2032 1.95% 1.81%
2031 1.83% 1.81%
2030 2.05% 1.85%
2029 2.08% 1.83%
2028 2.33% 1.97%
2027 2.2% 1.98%
2026 2.08% 2.03%
2025 2.14% 2.08%
2024 2.18% 2.15%
2023 2.23% 2.22%
2022 2.17% 2.25%
2021 2.13% 2.3%
2020 2.1% 2.34%
2019 2% 2.35%
2018 1.98% 2.38%
2017 1.96% 2.41%
2016 2.06% 2.38%
2015 2.08% 2.35%
2014 2.1% 2.42%
2013 2.22% 2.49%
2012 3.6% 2.56%
2011 4% 2.64%
2010 2.94% 2.76%
2009 3.19% 2.73%
2008 4.14% 2.53%
2007 5.11% 2.22%
2006 5.75% 2.23%
2005 4.57% 2.73%
2004 1.2% 3.44%
2003 0.8% 4.15%
2002 2.63% 5.94%
2001 2.98% 6.08%
2000 3.77% 2.44%
1999 5.68% 0.52%
1998 10.7% 0.99%
1997 8.09% 1.3%
1996 2.91% 0.48%
1995 0.89% 0.15%
1994 -0.24% 0.38%
1993 3.99% -0.22%
1992 5.93% -1.88%
1991 -12% 1.18%
1990 -11.7% 4.04%
1989 2.9% 2.53%
1988 2.93% 2.74%
1987 2.98% 2.72%
1986 3.03% 2.47%
1985 3.09% 2.24%
1984 3.14% 2.21%
1983 3.03% 2.16%
1982 2.93% 2.07%
1981 2.99% 2.04%
1980 3.02% 2.01%
1979 3% 1.97%
1978 2.96% 1.95%
1977 2.85% 1.87%
1976 2.76% 1.82%
1975 2.74% 1.86%
1974 2.7% 1.87%
1973 2.65% 1.87%
1972 2.57% 1.85%
1971 2.55% 1.88%
1970 2.59% 1.91%
1969 2.59% 1.91%
1968 2.58% 1.92%
1967 2.57% 1.9%
1966 2.57% 1.86%
1965 2.57% 1.83%
1964 2.55% 1.77%
1963 2.54% 1.71%
1962 2.51% 1.65%
1961 2.47% 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/liberia/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Liberia grew by 2.18%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Liberia Sierra Leone
Current population
5887000
9049533
Population rank 116/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
4.39 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
3.09 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
11.9 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +328 +497
Annual growth/decline +119,786 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.18% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 47/197
One migration net change every
53.4 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -9,870 -11,309
Net migration rank 132/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 72,423 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 142/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.3% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 148/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Liberia
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Liberia Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -9,870 - -11,309
2024 - -7,779 - -11,000
2023 125,730 -5,002 188,788 -4,000
2022 123,747 -5,003 186,625 -4,000
2021 121,038 -11,852 183,326 -1,544
2020 120,632 -10,107 181,015 1,292
2019 120,635 -19,678 181,068 -2,238
2018 120,231 -23,199 178,772 -2,741
2017 119,376 -24,807 173,259 1,234
2016 118,852 -26,796 168,784 4,657
2015 115,479 -15,182 162,275 -356
2014 116,667 -26,690 160,137 485
2013 120,138 -22,010 161,265 2,773
2012 121,973 -25,710 160,915 988
2011 115,496 91,981 158,858 6,895
2010 114,249 2,850 155,338 7,983
2009 113,429 1,187 152,669 18,145
2008 112,032 17,404 149,855 1,182
2007 109,165 65,306 145,740 -6,042
2006 104,099 77,946 144,127 -34,052
2005 96,478 101,019 137,234 -1,805
2004 91,755 -1,001 132,661 23,897
2003 87,534 -103,564 130,312 69,185
2002 88,643 -23,110 126,429 86,578
2001 86,217 7,142 116,647 227,791
2000 83,143 -2,060 110,754 83,013
1999 78,130 53,643 102,295 -84,926
1998 72,146 99,203 103,906 -76,766
1997 61,444 281,480 105,433 -48,437
1996 56,392 -37,922 104,140 -52,110
1995 53,407 54,372 100,885 -112,857
1994 52,101 -121,407 101,486 -77,371
1993 51,609 7,300 103,317 -95,476
1992 50,204 56,210 103,251 -129,565
1991 47,426 78,052 105,477 -238,965
1990 52,770 -712,544 100,778 131,587
1989 63,238 8,156 98,298 -5,079
1988 62,703 7,734 96,344 9,470
1987 62,147 6,840 94,235 9,558
1986 61,924 6,534 90,902 7,992
1985 59,988 7,487 88,869 -7,873
1984 59,460 7,513 87,072 -8,708
1983 57,562 7,861 84,628 -8,783
1982 56,127 2,530 82,457 -11,379
1981 55,003 2,757 80,111 -12,699
1980 53,452 4,016 77,932 -11,641
1979 52,125 3,500 75,992 -13,095
1978 49,813 3,500 74,130 -13,073
1977 47,582 3,555 71,663 -12,399
1976 45,528 1,246 69,506 -15,686
1975 43,478 2,037 67,560 -13,058
1974 41,499 2,086 65,357 -11,473
1973 39,694 2,272 62,443 -9,322
1972 37,860 2,018 60,279 -8,267
1971 36,015 1,293 58,484 -8,162
1970 35,196 2,285 56,513 -4,957
1969 34,677 1,982 54,768 -4,485
1968 33,536 1,964 53,126 -3,743
1967 32,519 2,177 51,734 -2,819
1966 31,454 1,953 49,486 -2,911
1965 30,618 2,431 47,223 -1,851
1964 29,592 2,189 45,487 -2,308
1963 28,708 2,165 43,569 -2,480
1962 27,679 2,189 41,603 -2,658
1961 26,670 2,115 40,022 -2,947
1960 25,713 1,886 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 87.7% of the population change in Liberia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,202,387 people) and 12.3% is from migration (a loss of 168,316 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, 72,423 residents or 1.3% of the population were not native-born in Liberia, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Liberia
City Population
Monrovia 1.02M
Sanniquellie 47.1K
Kakata 33.9K
Greenville 17.6K
Yekepa 11K
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/liberia/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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