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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Liberia was 5,731,206 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Liberia's population is 5,916,561 people compared to 9,090,531 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 100th.
  • 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 +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Liberia has increased from 3.49M people to 5.92M (69.5% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Liberia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Liberia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Liberia Sierra Leone
2100 12,784,957 16,107,087
2099 12,772,345 16,121,940
2098 12,753,452 16,135,035
2097 12,724,773 16,149,905
2096 12,692,036 16,160,672
2095 12,667,207 16,169,304
2094 12,641,522 16,168,902
2093 12,603,995 16,173,609
2092 12,579,473 16,170,778
2091 12,554,066 16,163,901
2090 12,509,480 16,154,165
2089 12,457,316 16,142,526
2088 12,425,766 16,128,775
2087 12,390,938 16,112,585
2086 12,328,007 16,085,549
2085 12,262,605 16,064,212
2084 12,214,581 16,040,563
2083 12,160,106 16,006,923
2082 12,118,849 15,970,872
2081 12,051,465 15,930,880
2080 11,973,445 15,892,665
2079 11,895,628 15,850,728
2078 11,820,198 15,801,450
2077 11,742,459 15,750,408
2076 11,653,806 15,695,310
2075 11,568,384 15,635,345
2074 11,466,229 15,580,279
2073 11,370,364 15,512,655
2072 11,284,839 15,442,481
2071 11,184,212 15,370,747
2070 11,094,537 15,293,426
2069 10,998,944 15,212,664
2068 10,915,300 15,124,069
2067 10,810,752 15,028,190
2066 10,718,452 14,931,295
2065 10,614,227 14,833,794
2064 10,517,857 14,736,872
2063 10,413,073 14,638,180
2062 10,305,739 14,525,736
2061 10,197,474 14,420,068
2060 10,088,502 14,307,451
2059 9,957,059 14,194,972
2058 9,854,358 14,077,124
2057 9,742,349 13,957,197
2056 9,621,132 13,832,494
2055 9,503,970 13,702,508
2054 9,399,455 13,576,231
2053 9,282,047 13,440,929
2052 9,170,319 13,299,910
2051 9,057,504 13,152,910
2050 8,948,808 13,006,688
2049 8,825,716 12,863,637
2048 8,702,515 12,712,671
2047 8,579,329 12,566,944
2046 8,453,730 12,411,042
2045 8,340,339 12,254,651
2044 8,218,270 12,088,895
2043 8,103,979 11,928,393
2042 7,969,742 11,767,372
2041 7,826,944 11,599,942
2040 7,696,136 11,428,331
2039 7,551,738 11,259,845
2038 7,419,716 11,097,180
2037 7,289,124 10,928,754
2036 7,144,012 10,757,928
2035 7,008,708 10,582,918
2034 6,881,558 10,411,088
2033 6,748,513 10,238,503
2032 6,617,506 10,059,929
2031 6,490,837 9,881,109
2030 6,374,102 9,705,485
2029 6,245,907 9,529,493
2028 6,118,823 9,358,412
2027 5,979,243 9,177,288
2026 5,850,359 8,998,902
2025 5,731,206 8,819,794
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,160,953 people (a 24.4% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Liberia was ranked 126th most populous country in 2006 and is 116th 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) Liberia's population will grow by 51.3% to 8,948,808 people with a rank change from 116th to 107th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th 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 2.11% 2.06%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Liberia grew by 2.11%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Liberia Sierra Leone
Current population
5916561
9090531
Population rank 116/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
4.45 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
3.06 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
11.7 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +324 +487
Annual growth/decline +118,389 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.11% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 44/197 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 126,631 -7,779 189,234 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 89% of the population change in Liberia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,212,351 people) and 11% is from migration (a loss of 149,405 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/liberia/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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