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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,402,306 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,341,166 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 3.87 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.57% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.34M (18.7% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Moldova vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova Sierra Leone
2100 1,175,882 16,111,324
2099 1,186,641 16,126,181
2098 1,197,541 16,139,280
2097 1,208,458 16,154,153
2096 1,219,478 16,164,923
2095 1,230,573 16,173,557
2094 1,241,540 16,173,155
2093 1,252,531 16,177,864
2092 1,263,471 16,175,032
2091 1,274,372 16,168,153
2090 1,285,020 16,158,415
2089 1,295,696 16,146,773
2088 1,306,424 16,133,018
2087 1,317,064 16,116,823
2086 1,327,799 16,089,780
2085 1,338,702 16,068,438
2084 1,349,432 16,044,782
2083 1,360,333 16,011,134
2082 1,371,322 15,975,073
2081 1,382,447 15,935,071
2080 1,393,733 15,896,846
2079 1,405,298 15,854,898
2078 1,417,062 15,805,607
2077 1,429,240 15,754,551
2076 1,441,240 15,699,439
2075 1,453,677 15,639,458
2074 1,466,568 15,584,377
2073 1,479,672 15,516,736
2072 1,493,311 15,446,543
2071 1,507,315 15,374,790
2070 1,522,149 15,297,449
2069 1,537,091 15,216,666
2068 1,552,724 15,128,048
2067 1,568,676 15,032,144
2066 1,584,782 14,935,222
2065 1,601,356 14,837,697
2064 1,618,317 14,740,749
2063 1,635,288 14,642,031
2062 1,652,720 14,529,557
2061 1,670,255 14,423,861
2060 1,688,120 14,311,215
2059 1,705,595 14,198,706
2058 1,722,942 14,080,827
2057 1,740,252 13,960,869
2056 1,757,829 13,836,132
2055 1,775,082 13,706,113
2054 1,792,262 13,579,802
2053 1,809,221 13,444,465
2052 1,825,831 13,303,409
2051 1,842,337 13,156,370
2050 1,858,281 13,010,109
2049 1,874,666 12,867,021
2048 1,890,586 12,716,015
2047 1,906,615 12,570,250
2046 1,922,962 12,414,307
2045 1,939,938 12,257,874
2044 1,956,858 12,092,075
2043 1,974,616 11,931,531
2042 1,992,765 11,770,467
2041 2,011,342 11,602,993
2040 2,030,732 11,431,337
2039 2,051,163 11,262,807
2038 2,071,871 11,100,099
2037 2,093,068 10,931,629
2036 2,114,669 10,760,758
2035 2,136,998 10,585,702
2034 2,159,450 10,413,826
2033 2,182,023 10,241,196
2032 2,204,431 10,062,575
2031 2,227,006 9,883,708
2030 2,250,038 9,708,038
2029 2,272,963 9,532,000
2028 2,295,739 9,360,873
2027 2,318,425 9,179,702
2026 2,341,166 9,001,269
2025 2,373,265 8,822,114
2024 2,402,306 8,642,022
2023 2,457,783 8,460,512
2022 2,528,654 8,276,807
2021 2,595,809 8,094,602
2020 2,635,130 7,912,558
2019 2,664,224 7,731,991
2018 2,707,203 7,554,563
2017 2,755,189 7,379,299
2016 2,803,186 7,205,328
2015 2,835,978 7,037,655
2014 2,857,815 6,876,385
2013 2,859,558 6,714,051
2012 2,860,324 6,551,080
2011 2,860,699 6,387,251
2010 2,862,354 6,222,714
2009 2,865,213 6,055,646
2008 2,868,833 5,894,722
2007 2,874,299 5,749,352
2006 2,880,967 5,624,466
2005 2,888,985 5,501,712
2004 2,896,023 5,355,717
2003 2,903,198 5,177,687
2002 2,911,385 4,971,435
2001 2,918,135 4,692,716
2000 2,924,668 4,423,611
1999 2,930,622 4,318,043
1998 2,935,227 4,295,785
1997 2,936,413 4,253,716
1996 2,947,293 4,199,210
1995 2,953,200 4,179,179
1994 2,966,745 4,173,105
1993 2,975,966 4,157,130
1992 2,980,965 4,166,366
1991 2,981,566 4,246,267
1990 2,977,912 4,196,828
1989 2,970,039 4,034,037
1988 2,948,891 3,934,517
1987 2,916,306 3,829,718
1986 2,883,057 3,728,380
1985 2,850,787 3,638,438
1984 2,820,518 3,558,758
1983 2,791,207 3,481,646
1982 2,763,101 3,408,183
1981 2,735,987 3,338,940
1980 2,708,675 3,272,089
1979 2,683,035 3,207,499
1978 2,656,211 3,145,517
1977 2,626,298 3,085,354
1976 2,596,491 3,028,820
1975 2,566,998 2,974,657
1974 2,538,164 2,920,459
1973 2,510,584 2,866,955
1972 2,484,742 2,814,388
1971 2,460,611 2,763,222
1970 2,437,590 2,712,286
1969 2,408,469 2,661,365
1968 2,373,073 2,611,532
1967 2,337,695 2,562,384
1966 2,301,871 2,514,638
1965 2,265,287 2,468,666
1964 2,228,000 2,424,390
1963 2,188,895 2,382,258
1962 2,147,227 2,342,242
1961 2,103,327 2,304,227
1960 2,058,020 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/moldova/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th 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) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.18M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Moldova Sierra Leone
2100 -0.91% -0.09%
2099 -0.91% -0.08%
2098 -0.9% -0.09%
2097 -0.9% -0.07%
2096 -0.9% -0.05%
2095 -0.88% 0.002%
2094 -0.88% -0.03%
2093 -0.87% 0.02%
2092 -0.86% 0.04%
2091 -0.83% 0.06%
2090 -0.82% 0.07%
2089 -0.82% 0.09%
2088 -0.81% 0.1%
2087 -0.81% 0.17%
2086 -0.81% 0.13%
2085 -0.8% 0.15%
2084 -0.8% 0.21%
2083 -0.8% 0.23%
2082 -0.8% 0.25%
2081 -0.81% 0.24%
2080 -0.82% 0.26%
2079 -0.83% 0.31%
2078 -0.85% 0.32%
2077 -0.83% 0.35%
2076 -0.86% 0.38%
2075 -0.88% 0.35%
2074 -0.89% 0.44%
2073 -0.91% 0.45%
2072 -0.93% 0.47%
2071 -0.97% 0.51%
2070 -0.97% 0.53%
2069 -1.01% 0.59%
2068 -1.02% 0.64%
2067 -1.02% 0.65%
2066 -1.03% 0.66%
2065 -1.05% 0.66%
2064 -1.04% 0.67%
2063 -1.05% 0.77%
2062 -1.05% 0.73%
2061 -1.06% 0.79%
2060 -1.02% 0.79%
2059 -1.01% 0.84%
2058 -0.99% 0.86%
2057 -1% 0.9%
2056 -0.97% 0.95%
2055 -0.96% 0.93%
2054 -0.94% 1.01%
2053 -0.91% 1.06%
2052 -0.9% 1.12%
2051 -0.86% 1.12%
2050 -0.87% 1.11%
2049 -0.84% 1.19%
2048 -0.84% 1.16%
2047 -0.85% 1.26%
2046 -0.88% 1.28%
2045 -0.86% 1.37%
2044 -0.9% 1.35%
2043 -0.91% 1.37%
2042 -0.92% 1.44%
2041 -0.95% 1.5%
2040 -1% 1.5%
2039 -1% 1.47%
2038 -1.01% 1.54%
2037 -1.02% 1.59%
2036 -1.04% 1.65%
2035 -1.04% 1.65%
2034 -1.03% 1.69%
2033 -1.02% 1.78%
2032 -1.01% 1.81%
2031 -1.02% 1.81%
2030 -1.01% 1.85%
2029 -0.99% 1.83%
2028 -0.98% 1.97%
2027 -0.97% 1.98%
2026 -1.35% 2.03%
2025 -1.21% 2.08%
2024 -2.26% 2.15%
2023 -2.8% 2.22%
2022 -2.59% 2.25%
2021 -1.49% 2.3%
2020 -1.09% 2.34%
2019 -1.59% 2.35%
2018 -1.74% 2.38%
2017 -1.71% 2.41%
2016 -1.16% 2.38%
2015 -0.76% 2.35%
2014 -0.06% 2.42%
2013 -0.03% 2.49%
2012 -0.01% 2.56%
2011 -0.06% 2.64%
2010 -0.1% 2.76%
2009 -0.13% 2.73%
2008 -0.19% 2.53%
2007 -0.23% 2.22%
2006 -0.28% 2.23%
2005 -0.24% 2.73%
2004 -0.25% 3.44%
2003 -0.28% 4.15%
2002 -0.23% 5.94%
2001 -0.22% 6.08%
2000 -0.2% 2.44%
1999 -0.16% 0.52%
1998 -0.04% 0.99%
1997 -0.37% 1.3%
1996 -0.2% 0.48%
1995 -0.46% 0.15%
1994 -0.31% 0.38%
1993 -0.17% -0.22%
1992 -0.02% -1.88%
1991 0.12% 1.18%
1990 0.27% 4.04%
1989 0.72% 2.53%
1988 1.12% 2.74%
1987 1.15% 2.72%
1986 1.13% 2.47%
1985 1.07% 2.24%
1984 1.05% 2.21%
1983 1.02% 2.16%
1982 0.99% 2.07%
1981 1.01% 2.04%
1980 0.96% 2.01%
1979 1.01% 1.97%
1978 1.14% 1.95%
1977 1.15% 1.87%
1976 1.15% 1.82%
1975 1.14% 1.86%
1974 1.1% 1.87%
1973 1.04% 1.87%
1972 0.98% 1.85%
1971 0.94% 1.88%
1970 1.21% 1.91%
1969 1.49% 1.91%
1968 1.51% 1.92%
1967 1.56% 1.9%
1966 1.61% 1.86%
1965 1.67% 1.83%
1964 1.79% 1.77%
1963 1.94% 1.71%
1962 2.09% 1.65%
1961 2.2% 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/moldova/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Moldova declined by 2.26%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Moldova Sierra Leone
Current population
2341166
9049533
Population rank 145/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.11%
One net population change
9.47 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
19.9 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
15.7 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -152 +497
Annual growth/decline -55,477 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate -2.26% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 47/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -29,766 -11,309
Net migration rank 164/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 188,207 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 116/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 85/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Moldova
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - -11,309
2024 - -27,088 - -11,000
2023 -7,007 -18,570 188,788 -4,000
2022 -6,385 89,154 186,625 -4,000
2021 -13,444 -33,405 183,326 -1,544
2020 -7,067 -33,405 181,015 1,292
2019 -3,416 -41,233 181,068 -2,238
2018 -961 -36,085 178,772 -2,741
2017 1,402 -43,871 173,259 1,234
2016 4,580 -51,642 168,784 4,657
2015 6,049 -59,399 162,275 -356
2014 7,248 -67,175 160,137 485
2013 3,537 -77,571 161,265 2,773
2012 5,581 -81,215 160,915 988
2011 5,948 -82,271 158,858 6,895
2010 7,456 -84,039 155,338 7,983
2009 7,492 -83,546 152,669 18,145
2008 5,210 -79,593 149,855 1,182
2007 3,490 -75,734 145,740 -6,042
2006 2,406 -72,061 144,127 -34,052
2005 2,005 -68,681 137,234 -1,805
2004 1,714 -52,491 132,661 23,897
2003 -322 -46,947 130,312 69,185
2002 -1,249 -45,833 126,429 86,578
2001 -718 -45,043 116,647 227,791
2000 -324 -43,854 110,754 83,013
1999 642 -43,111 102,295 -84,926
1998 2,140 -41,975 103,906 -76,766
1997 4,669 -41,743 105,433 -48,437
1996 2,655 -33,369 104,140 -52,110
1995 5,534 -31,975 100,885 -112,857
1994 9,921 -31,616 101,486 -77,371
1993 13,886 -31,526 103,317 -95,476
1992 17,373 -30,136 103,251 -129,565
1991 21,127 -29,204 105,477 -238,965
1990 25,824 -30,053 100,778 131,587
1989 29,638 -29,307 98,298 -5,079
1988 35,608 -4,989 96,344 9,470
1987 40,122 -10,796 94,235 9,558
1986 39,463 -8,769 90,902 7,992
1985 38,060 -10,627 88,869 -7,873
1984 38,108 -12,732 87,072 -8,708
1983 36,076 -10,543 84,628 -8,783
1982 32,814 -8,412 82,457 -11,379
1981 31,360 -6,452 80,111 -12,699
1980 30,053 -3,693 77,932 -11,641
1979 28,322 -6,912 75,992 -13,095
1978 27,622 3,483 74,130 -13,073
1977 27,707 3,245 71,663 -12,399
1976 27,801 2,885 69,506 -15,686
1975 27,677 2,355 67,560 -13,058
1974 27,219 1,785 65,357 -11,473
1973 25,967 1,156 62,443 -9,322
1972 24,626 481 60,279 -8,267
1971 23,359 -61 58,484 -8,162
1970 22,314 606 56,513 -4,957
1969 21,768 20,561 54,768 -4,485
1968 22,005 19,830 53,126 -3,743
1967 22,654 19,175 51,734 -2,819
1966 23,720 18,601 49,486 -2,911
1965 24,916 18,066 47,223 -1,851
1964 25,860 17,509 45,487 -2,308
1963 29,382 16,816 43,569 -2,480
1962 32,082 15,884 41,603 -2,658
1961 35,180 14,818 40,022 -2,947
1960 36,352 13,697 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 6.04% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 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, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
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/moldova/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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