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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mozambique was 34,631,766 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mozambique's population is 36,941,128 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Mozambique's population is 4.08 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Mozambique is ranked the 43rd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.45% for Mozambique vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Mozambique has had an average growth rate of +2.99% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mozambique has increased from 20.8M people to 36.9M (77.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Mozambique vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Mozambique
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mozambique Sierra Leone
2100 105,684,658 16,111,324
2099 105,291,198 16,126,181
2098 104,859,475 16,139,280
2097 104,428,679 16,154,153
2096 103,962,668 16,164,923
2095 103,480,514 16,173,557
2094 102,989,197 16,173,155
2093 102,464,565 16,177,864
2092 101,929,545 16,175,032
2091 101,410,418 16,168,153
2090 100,829,728 16,158,415
2089 100,211,758 16,146,773
2088 99,594,130 16,133,018
2087 98,943,096 16,116,823
2086 98,288,529 16,089,780
2085 97,609,760 16,068,438
2084 96,926,143 16,044,782
2083 96,193,441 16,011,134
2082 95,449,095 15,975,073
2081 94,708,064 15,935,071
2080 93,957,824 15,896,846
2079 93,171,561 15,854,898
2078 92,350,666 15,805,607
2077 91,530,198 15,754,551
2076 90,699,125 15,699,439
2075 89,848,943 15,639,458
2074 88,999,187 15,584,377
2073 88,113,398 15,516,736
2072 87,210,961 15,446,543
2071 86,283,286 15,374,790
2070 85,349,704 15,297,449
2069 84,361,565 15,216,666
2068 83,400,997 15,128,048
2067 82,437,397 15,032,144
2066 81,437,030 14,935,222
2065 80,446,244 14,837,697
2064 79,433,801 14,740,749
2063 78,430,632 14,642,031
2062 77,376,597 14,529,557
2061 76,274,806 14,423,861
2060 75,197,384 14,311,215
2059 74,082,771 14,198,706
2058 72,958,774 14,080,827
2057 71,828,186 13,960,869
2056 70,677,889 13,836,132
2055 69,542,373 13,706,113
2054 68,419,331 13,579,802
2053 67,306,817 13,444,465
2052 66,163,407 13,303,409
2051 65,032,770 13,156,370
2050 63,898,302 13,010,109
2049 62,731,532 12,867,021
2048 61,579,833 12,716,015
2047 60,424,101 12,570,250
2046 59,273,421 12,414,307
2045 58,132,244 12,257,874
2044 56,969,604 12,092,075
2043 55,814,906 11,931,531
2042 54,633,120 11,770,467
2041 53,476,191 11,602,993
2040 52,305,805 11,431,337
2039 51,136,087 11,262,807
2038 49,973,820 11,100,099
2037 48,827,661 10,931,629
2036 47,668,628 10,760,758
2035 46,520,419 10,585,702
2034 45,358,645 10,413,826
2033 44,229,218 10,241,196
2032 43,102,655 10,062,575
2031 41,993,535 9,883,708
2030 40,901,742 9,708,038
2029 39,818,379 9,532,000
2028 38,748,841 9,360,873
2027 37,696,739 9,179,702
2026 36,660,958 9,001,269
2025 35,650,681 8,822,114
2024 34,631,766 8,642,022
2023 33,635,160 8,460,512
2022 32,656,246 8,276,807
2021 31,707,800 8,094,602
2020 30,783,688 7,912,558
2019 29,884,380 7,731,991
2018 29,018,644 7,554,563
2017 28,166,393 7,379,299
2016 27,337,105 7,205,328
2015 26,547,572 7,037,655
2014 25,788,475 6,876,385
2013 25,051,611 6,714,051
2012 24,337,846 6,551,080
2011 23,649,039 6,387,251
2010 22,999,235 6,222,714
2009 22,391,745 6,055,646
2008 21,819,036 5,894,722
2007 21,287,635 5,749,352
2006 20,787,087 5,624,466
2005 20,304,569 5,501,712
2004 19,840,313 5,355,717
2003 19,392,475 5,177,687
2002 18,958,338 4,971,435
2001 18,537,729 4,692,716
2000 18,129,653 4,423,611
1999 17,734,506 4,318,043
1998 17,340,464 4,295,785
1997 16,949,982 4,253,716
1996 16,492,480 4,199,210
1995 15,960,530 4,179,179
1994 15,033,853 4,173,105
1993 14,051,192 4,157,130
1992 13,613,316 4,166,366
1991 13,352,090 4,246,267
1990 13,094,537 4,196,828
1989 12,906,842 4,034,037
1988 12,800,558 3,934,517
1987 12,822,574 3,829,718
1986 12,770,578 3,728,380
1985 12,548,949 3,638,438
1984 12,315,954 3,558,758
1983 12,073,822 3,481,646
1982 11,824,370 3,408,183
1981 11,568,127 3,338,940
1980 11,336,221 3,272,089
1979 11,028,809 3,207,499
1978 10,618,250 3,145,517
1977 10,224,975 3,085,354
1976 9,867,209 3,028,820
1975 9,540,817 2,974,657
1974 9,236,093 2,920,459
1973 8,954,242 2,866,955
1972 8,692,935 2,814,388
1971 8,456,317 2,763,222
1970 8,250,506 2,712,286
1969 8,066,951 2,661,365
1968 7,892,613 2,611,532
1967 7,724,550 2,562,384
1966 7,562,990 2,514,638
1965 7,406,421 2,468,666
1964 7,255,061 2,424,390
1963 7,109,828 2,382,258
1962 6,969,364 2,342,242
1961 6,834,936 2,304,227
1960 6,713,695 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/mozambique/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mozambique increased by 6,550,018 people (a 31.5% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mozambique gained 9,604,023 people (a 35.1% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Mozambique was ranked 52nd most populous country in 2006 and is 43rd 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) Mozambique's population will grow by 73% to 63,898,302 people with a rank change from 43rd to 32nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Mozambique is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 106M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Mozambique
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mozambique Sierra Leone
2100 0.37% -0.09%
2099 0.41% -0.08%
2098 0.41% -0.09%
2097 0.45% -0.07%
2096 0.47% -0.05%
2095 0.48% 0.002%
2094 0.51% -0.03%
2093 0.52% 0.02%
2092 0.51% 0.04%
2091 0.58% 0.06%
2090 0.62% 0.07%
2089 0.62% 0.09%
2088 0.66% 0.1%
2087 0.67% 0.17%
2086 0.7% 0.13%
2085 0.71% 0.15%
2084 0.76% 0.21%
2083 0.78% 0.23%
2082 0.78% 0.25%
2081 0.8% 0.24%
2080 0.84% 0.26%
2079 0.89% 0.31%
2078 0.9% 0.32%
2077 0.92% 0.35%
2076 0.95% 0.38%
2075 0.95% 0.35%
2074 1.01% 0.44%
2073 1.03% 0.45%
2072 1.08% 0.47%
2071 1.09% 0.51%
2070 1.17% 0.53%
2069 1.15% 0.59%
2068 1.17% 0.64%
2067 1.23% 0.65%
2066 1.23% 0.66%
2065 1.27% 0.66%
2064 1.28% 0.67%
2063 1.36% 0.77%
2062 1.44% 0.73%
2061 1.43% 0.79%
2060 1.5% 0.79%
2059 1.54% 0.84%
2058 1.57% 0.86%
2057 1.63% 0.9%
2056 1.63% 0.95%
2055 1.64% 0.93%
2054 1.65% 1.01%
2053 1.73% 1.06%
2052 1.74% 1.12%
2051 1.78% 1.12%
2050 1.86% 1.11%
2049 1.87% 1.19%
2048 1.91% 1.16%
2047 1.94% 1.26%
2046 1.96% 1.28%
2045 2.04% 1.37%
2044 2.07% 1.35%
2043 2.16% 1.37%
2042 2.16% 1.44%
2041 2.24% 1.5%
2040 2.29% 1.5%
2039 2.33% 1.47%
2038 2.35% 1.54%
2037 2.43% 1.59%
2036 2.47% 1.65%
2035 2.56% 1.65%
2034 2.55% 1.69%
2033 2.61% 1.78%
2032 2.64% 1.81%
2031 2.67% 1.81%
2030 2.72% 1.85%
2029 2.76% 1.83%
2028 2.79% 1.97%
2027 2.83% 1.98%
2026 2.83% 2.03%
2025 2.94% 2.08%
2024 2.96% 2.15%
2023 3% 2.22%
2022 2.99% 2.25%
2021 3% 2.3%
2020 3.01% 2.34%
2019 2.98% 2.35%
2018 3.03% 2.38%
2017 3.03% 2.41%
2016 2.97% 2.38%
2015 2.94% 2.35%
2014 2.94% 2.42%
2013 2.93% 2.49%
2012 2.91% 2.56%
2011 2.83% 2.64%
2010 2.71% 2.76%
2009 2.62% 2.73%
2008 2.5% 2.53%
2007 2.41% 2.22%
2006 2.38% 2.23%
2005 2.34% 2.73%
2004 2.31% 3.44%
2003 2.29% 4.15%
2002 2.27% 5.94%
2001 2.25% 6.08%
2000 2.23% 2.44%
1999 2.27% 0.52%
1998 2.3% 0.99%
1997 2.77% 1.3%
1996 3.33% 0.48%
1995 6.16% 0.15%
1994 6.99% 0.38%
1993 3.22% -0.22%
1992 1.96% -1.88%
1991 1.97% 1.18%
1990 1.45% 4.04%
1989 0.83% 2.53%
1988 -0.17% 2.74%
1987 0.41% 2.72%
1986 1.77% 2.47%
1985 1.89% 2.24%
1984 2.01% 2.21%
1983 2.11% 2.16%
1982 2.22% 2.07%
1981 2.05% 2.04%
1980 2.79% 2.01%
1979 3.87% 1.97%
1978 3.85% 1.95%
1977 3.63% 1.87%
1976 3.42% 1.82%
1975 3.3% 1.86%
1974 3.15% 1.87%
1973 3.01% 1.87%
1972 2.8% 1.85%
1971 2.49% 1.88%
1970 2.28% 1.91%
1969 2.21% 1.91%
1968 2.18% 1.92%
1967 2.14% 1.9%
1966 2.11% 1.86%
1965 2.09% 1.83%
1964 2.04% 1.77%
1963 2.02% 1.71%
1962 1.97% 1.65%
1961 1.81% 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/mozambique/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mozambique grew by 2.96%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Mozambique Sierra Leone
Current population
36941128
9049533
Population rank 43/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.45% 0.11%
One net population change
31.6 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
25 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.23 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,730 +497
Annual growth/decline +996,606 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.96% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 16/197 47/197
One migration net change every
8.04 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -65,573 -11,309
Net migration rank 178/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 353,143 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 93/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 154/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mozambique
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mozambique Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -65,573 - -11,309
2024 - -38,940 - -11,000
2023 1,025,334 -36,276 188,788 -4,000
2022 1,003,689 -34,936 186,625 -4,000
2021 951,234 -23,103 183,326 -1,544
2020 945,952 -25,864 181,015 1,292
2019 927,581 -49,080 181,068 -2,238
2018 903,176 -50,224 178,772 -2,741
2017 876,594 -25,043 173,259 1,234
2016 850,430 -43,398 168,784 4,657
2015 824,435 -52,374 162,275 -356
2014 799,778 -53,625 160,137 485
2013 784,641 -57,067 161,265 2,773
2012 763,088 -63,131 160,915 988
2011 741,303 -63,638 158,858 6,895
2010 719,025 -97,079 155,338 7,983
2009 693,673 -100,625 152,669 18,145
2008 654,920 -102,534 149,855 1,182
2007 610,913 -100,490 145,740 -6,042
2006 586,009 -95,333 144,127 -34,052
2005 570,132 -95,770 137,234 -1,805
2004 554,973 -100,824 132,661 23,897
2003 540,992 -99,484 130,312 69,185
2002 529,867 -103,102 126,429 86,578
2001 519,594 -105,130 116,647 227,791
2000 506,162 -104,476 110,754 83,013
1999 491,814 -103,223 102,295 -84,926
1998 474,453 -74,952 103,906 -76,766
1997 461,209 -79,732 105,433 -48,437
1996 442,559 90,975 104,140 -52,110
1995 421,630 108,751 100,885 -112,857
1994 384,821 938,163 101,486 -77,371
1993 369,518 272,829 103,317 -95,476
1992 362,373 -128,960 103,251 -129,565
1991 357,676 -68,644 105,477 -238,965
1990 353,290 -127,215 100,778 131,587
1989 348,833 -199,509 98,298 -5,079
1988 349,480 -286,247 96,344 9,470
1987 334,438 -441,710 94,235 9,558
1986 332,609 -121,350 90,902 7,992
1985 307,625 -75,642 88,869 -7,873
1984 304,524 -70,532 87,072 -8,708
1983 324,158 -73,899 84,628 -8,783
1982 321,493 -72,852 82,457 -11,379
1981 322,207 -58,347 80,111 -12,699
1980 349,586 -149,650 77,932 -11,641
1979 331,162 83,699 75,992 -13,095
1978 310,403 95,859 74,130 -13,073
1977 289,193 91,082 71,663 -12,399
1976 273,924 61,326 69,506 -15,686
1975 257,984 59,562 67,560 -13,058
1974 240,665 51,238 65,357 -11,473
1973 226,847 44,951 62,443 -9,322
1972 215,793 35,023 60,279 -8,267
1971 211,137 11,297 58,484 -8,162
1970 207,385 -18,197 56,513 -4,957
1969 202,174 -24,251 54,768 -4,485
1968 197,623 -26,872 53,126 -3,743
1967 193,044 -27,672 51,734 -2,819
1966 189,218 -31,462 49,486 -2,911
1965 185,931 -30,538 47,223 -1,851
1964 182,334 -35,005 45,487 -2,308
1963 180,867 -37,738 43,569 -2,480
1962 176,297 -38,504 41,603 -2,658
1961 171,236 -40,181 40,022 -2,947
1960 165,774 -54,351 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.9% of the population change in Mozambique is from natural causes (a gain of 9,108,203 people) and 4.15% is from migration (a loss of 393,923 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, 353,143 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in Mozambique, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Mozambique
City Population
Maputo 1.13M
Matola 1.03M
Nampula 743K
Beira 531K
Quelimane 350K
Chimoio 239K
Nacala 225K
Tete 153K
Pemba 141K
Xai-Xai 116K
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/mozambique/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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