The latest officially reported population of Nauru was 11,947 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nauru's population is 12,125 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.
Population statistics:
- Sierra Leone's population is 746 times bigger than Nauru's.
- Nauru is ranked the 195th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
- The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.0001% for Nauru vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
- For the last 10 years, Nauru has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
- Since 2006, the population of Nauru has increased from 10K people to 12.1K (20.8% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).
Nauru vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Nauru
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 20,717 | 16,111,324 |
| 2099 | 20,686 | 16,126,181 |
| 2098 | 20,645 | 16,139,280 |
| 2097 | 20,605 | 16,154,153 |
| 2096 | 20,570 | 16,164,923 |
| 2095 | 20,535 | 16,173,557 |
| 2094 | 20,488 | 16,173,155 |
| 2093 | 20,432 | 16,177,864 |
| 2092 | 20,386 | 16,175,032 |
| 2091 | 20,341 | 16,168,153 |
| 2090 | 20,285 | 16,158,415 |
| 2089 | 20,219 | 16,146,773 |
| 2088 | 20,152 | 16,133,018 |
| 2087 | 20,096 | 16,116,823 |
| 2086 | 20,028 | 16,089,780 |
| 2085 | 19,959 | 16,068,438 |
| 2084 | 19,880 | 16,044,782 |
| 2083 | 19,796 | 16,011,134 |
| 2082 | 19,709 | 15,975,073 |
| 2081 | 19,611 | 15,935,071 |
| 2080 | 19,525 | 15,896,846 |
| 2079 | 19,420 | 15,854,898 |
| 2078 | 19,312 | 15,805,607 |
| 2077 | 19,206 | 15,754,551 |
| 2076 | 19,098 | 15,699,439 |
| 2075 | 18,986 | 15,639,458 |
| 2074 | 18,874 | 15,584,377 |
| 2073 | 18,758 | 15,516,736 |
| 2072 | 18,638 | 15,446,543 |
| 2071 | 18,535 | 15,374,790 |
| 2070 | 18,396 | 15,297,449 |
| 2069 | 18,289 | 15,216,666 |
| 2068 | 18,168 | 15,128,048 |
| 2067 | 18,025 | 15,032,144 |
| 2066 | 17,903 | 14,935,222 |
| 2065 | 17,777 | 14,837,697 |
| 2064 | 17,649 | 14,740,749 |
| 2063 | 17,524 | 14,642,031 |
| 2062 | 17,402 | 14,529,557 |
| 2061 | 17,267 | 14,423,861 |
| 2060 | 17,137 | 14,311,215 |
| 2059 | 17,013 | 14,198,706 |
| 2058 | 16,882 | 14,080,827 |
| 2057 | 16,752 | 13,960,869 |
| 2056 | 16,612 | 13,836,132 |
| 2055 | 16,472 | 13,706,113 |
| 2054 | 16,335 | 13,579,802 |
| 2053 | 16,193 | 13,444,465 |
| 2052 | 16,049 | 13,303,409 |
| 2051 | 15,888 | 13,156,370 |
| 2050 | 15,738 | 13,010,109 |
| 2049 | 15,572 | 12,867,021 |
| 2048 | 15,412 | 12,716,015 |
| 2047 | 15,241 | 12,570,250 |
| 2046 | 15,064 | 12,414,307 |
| 2045 | 14,895 | 12,257,874 |
| 2044 | 14,718 | 12,092,075 |
| 2043 | 14,546 | 11,931,531 |
| 2042 | 14,363 | 11,770,467 |
| 2041 | 14,180 | 11,602,993 |
| 2040 | 13,996 | 11,431,337 |
| 2039 | 13,827 | 11,262,807 |
| 2038 | 13,672 | 11,100,099 |
| 2037 | 13,513 | 10,931,629 |
| 2036 | 13,363 | 10,760,758 |
| 2035 | 13,196 | 10,585,702 |
| 2034 | 13,040 | 10,413,826 |
| 2033 | 12,894 | 10,241,196 |
| 2032 | 12,758 | 10,062,575 |
| 2031 | 12,625 | 9,883,708 |
| 2030 | 12,504 | 9,708,038 |
| 2029 | 12,386 | 9,532,000 |
| 2028 | 12,292 | 9,360,873 |
| 2027 | 12,182 | 9,179,702 |
| 2026 | 12,105 | 9,001,269 |
| 2025 | 12,030 | 8,822,114 |
| 2024 | 11,947 | 8,642,022 |
| 2023 | 11,875 | 8,460,512 |
| 2022 | 11,801 | 8,276,807 |
| 2021 | 11,709 | 8,094,602 |
| 2020 | 11,643 | 7,912,558 |
| 2019 | 11,587 | 7,731,991 |
| 2018 | 11,477 | 7,554,563 |
| 2017 | 11,324 | 7,379,299 |
| 2016 | 11,150 | 7,205,328 |
| 2015 | 10,954 | 7,037,655 |
| 2014 | 10,742 | 6,876,385 |
| 2013 | 10,517 | 6,714,051 |
| 2012 | 10,267 | 6,551,080 |
| 2011 | 10,098 | 6,387,251 |
| 2010 | 10,043 | 6,222,714 |
| 2009 | 10,016 | 6,055,646 |
| 2008 | 10,009 | 5,894,722 |
| 2007 | 10,020 | 5,749,352 |
| 2006 | 10,034 | 5,624,466 |
| 2005 | 10,049 | 5,501,712 |
| 2004 | 10,060 | 5,355,717 |
| 2003 | 10,059 | 5,177,687 |
| 2002 | 10,082 | 4,971,435 |
| 2001 | 10,130 | 4,692,716 |
| 2000 | 10,168 | 4,423,611 |
| 1999 | 10,187 | 4,318,043 |
| 1998 | 10,198 | 4,295,785 |
| 1997 | 10,197 | 4,253,716 |
| 1996 | 10,183 | 4,199,210 |
| 1995 | 10,165 | 4,179,179 |
| 1994 | 10,137 | 4,173,105 |
| 1993 | 10,102 | 4,157,130 |
| 1992 | 10,021 | 4,166,366 |
| 1991 | 9,850 | 4,246,267 |
| 1990 | 9,622 | 4,196,828 |
| 1989 | 9,390 | 4,034,037 |
| 1988 | 9,165 | 3,934,517 |
| 1987 | 8,946 | 3,829,718 |
| 1986 | 8,742 | 3,728,380 |
| 1985 | 8,551 | 3,638,438 |
| 1984 | 8,377 | 3,558,758 |
| 1983 | 8,216 | 3,481,646 |
| 1982 | 8,040 | 3,408,183 |
| 1981 | 7,839 | 3,338,940 |
| 1980 | 7,649 | 3,272,089 |
| 1979 | 7,468 | 3,207,499 |
| 1978 | 7,298 | 3,145,517 |
| 1977 | 7,163 | 3,085,354 |
| 1976 | 7,064 | 3,028,820 |
| 1975 | 6,987 | 2,974,657 |
| 1974 | 6,923 | 2,920,459 |
| 1973 | 6,866 | 2,866,955 |
| 1972 | 6,812 | 2,814,388 |
| 1971 | 6,762 | 2,763,222 |
| 1970 | 6,710 | 2,712,286 |
| 1969 | 6,581 | 2,661,365 |
| 1968 | 6,328 | 2,611,532 |
| 1967 | 6,135 | 2,562,384 |
| 1966 | 6,043 | 2,514,638 |
| 1965 | 5,832 | 2,468,666 |
| 1964 | 5,515 | 2,424,390 |
| 1963 | 5,226 | 2,382,258 |
| 1962 | 4,979 | 2,342,242 |
| 1961 | 4,774 | 2,304,227 |
| 1960 | 4,607 | 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/nauru/sierra-leone | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nauru increased by 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nauru gained 975 people (a 8.74% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).
Nauru was ranked 196th most populous country in 2006 and is 195th 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) Nauru's population will grow by 29.8% to 15,738 people with a rank change from 195th to 194th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.
Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 0.15% | -0.09% |
| 2099 | 0.2% | -0.08% |
| 2098 | 0.19% | -0.09% |
| 2097 | 0.17% | -0.07% |
| 2096 | 0.17% | -0.05% |
| 2095 | 0.23% | 0.002% |
| 2094 | 0.27% | -0.03% |
| 2093 | 0.23% | 0.02% |
| 2092 | 0.22% | 0.04% |
| 2091 | 0.28% | 0.06% |
| 2090 | 0.33% | 0.07% |
| 2089 | 0.33% | 0.09% |
| 2088 | 0.28% | 0.1% |
| 2087 | 0.34% | 0.17% |
| 2086 | 0.35% | 0.13% |
| 2085 | 0.39% | 0.15% |
| 2084 | 0.43% | 0.21% |
| 2083 | 0.44% | 0.23% |
| 2082 | 0.5% | 0.25% |
| 2081 | 0.44% | 0.24% |
| 2080 | 0.54% | 0.26% |
| 2079 | 0.56% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | 0.55% | 0.32% |
| 2077 | 0.57% | 0.35% |
| 2076 | 0.59% | 0.38% |
| 2075 | 0.6% | 0.35% |
| 2074 | 0.62% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | 0.65% | 0.45% |
| 2072 | 0.56% | 0.47% |
| 2071 | 0.75% | 0.51% |
| 2070 | 0.59% | 0.53% |
| 2069 | 0.66% | 0.59% |
| 2068 | 0.8% | 0.64% |
| 2067 | 0.68% | 0.65% |
| 2066 | 0.71% | 0.66% |
| 2065 | 0.73% | 0.66% |
| 2064 | 0.71% | 0.67% |
| 2063 | 0.7% | 0.77% |
| 2062 | 0.78% | 0.73% |
| 2061 | 0.76% | 0.79% |
| 2060 | 0.73% | 0.79% |
| 2059 | 0.78% | 0.84% |
| 2058 | 0.77% | 0.86% |
| 2057 | 0.85% | 0.9% |
| 2056 | 0.85% | 0.95% |
| 2055 | 0.84% | 0.93% |
| 2054 | 0.87% | 1.01% |
| 2053 | 0.9% | 1.06% |
| 2052 | 1.01% | 1.12% |
| 2051 | 0.96% | 1.12% |
| 2050 | 1.06% | 1.11% |
| 2049 | 1.04% | 1.19% |
| 2048 | 1.12% | 1.16% |
| 2047 | 1.17% | 1.26% |
| 2046 | 1.14% | 1.28% |
| 2045 | 1.2% | 1.37% |
| 2044 | 1.19% | 1.35% |
| 2043 | 1.27% | 1.37% |
| 2042 | 1.29% | 1.44% |
| 2041 | 1.32% | 1.5% |
| 2040 | 1.22% | 1.5% |
| 2039 | 1.14% | 1.47% |
| 2038 | 1.17% | 1.54% |
| 2037 | 1.12% | 1.59% |
| 2036 | 1.27% | 1.65% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | 1.65% |
| 2034 | 1.14% | 1.69% |
| 2033 | 1.06% | 1.78% |
| 2032 | 1.06% | 1.81% |
| 2031 | 0.96% | 1.81% |
| 2030 | 0.96% | 1.85% |
| 2029 | 0.77% | 1.83% |
| 2028 | 0.9% | 1.97% |
| 2027 | 0.64% | 1.98% |
| 2026 | 0.63% | 2.03% |
| 2025 | 0.7% | 2.08% |
| 2024 | 0.61% | 2.15% |
| 2023 | 0.63% | 2.22% |
| 2022 | 0.79% | 2.25% |
| 2021 | 0.57% | 2.3% |
| 2020 | 0.48% | 2.34% |
| 2019 | 0.96% | 2.35% |
| 2018 | 1.35% | 2.38% |
| 2017 | 1.56% | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 1.79% | 2.38% |
| 2015 | 1.97% | 2.35% |
| 2014 | 2.14% | 2.42% |
| 2013 | 2.43% | 2.49% |
| 2012 | 1.67% | 2.56% |
| 2011 | 0.55% | 2.64% |
| 2010 | 0.27% | 2.76% |
| 2009 | 0.07% | 2.73% |
| 2008 | -0.11% | 2.53% |
| 2007 | -0.14% | 2.22% |
| 2006 | -0.15% | 2.23% |
| 2005 | -0.11% | 2.73% |
| 2004 | 0.01% | 3.44% |
| 2003 | -0.23% | 4.15% |
| 2002 | -0.47% | 5.94% |
| 2001 | -0.37% | 6.08% |
| 2000 | -0.19% | 2.44% |
| 1999 | -0.11% | 0.52% |
| 1998 | 0.01% | 0.99% |
| 1997 | 0.14% | 1.3% |
| 1996 | 0.18% | 0.48% |
| 1995 | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| 1994 | 0.35% | 0.38% |
| 1993 | 0.81% | -0.22% |
| 1992 | 1.74% | -1.88% |
| 1991 | 2.37% | 1.18% |
| 1990 | 2.47% | 4.04% |
| 1989 | 2.45% | 2.53% |
| 1988 | 2.45% | 2.74% |
| 1987 | 2.33% | 2.72% |
| 1986 | 2.23% | 2.47% |
| 1985 | 2.08% | 2.24% |
| 1984 | 1.96% | 2.21% |
| 1983 | 2.19% | 2.16% |
| 1982 | 2.56% | 2.07% |
| 1981 | 2.48% | 2.04% |
| 1980 | 2.42% | 2.01% |
| 1979 | 2.33% | 1.97% |
| 1978 | 1.88% | 1.95% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | 1.87% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | 1.82% |
| 1975 | 0.92% | 1.86% |
| 1974 | 0.83% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 0.79% | 1.87% |
| 1972 | 0.74% | 1.85% |
| 1971 | 0.77% | 1.88% |
| 1970 | 1.96% | 1.91% |
| 1969 | 4% | 1.91% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 1.92% |
| 1967 | 1.52% | 1.9% |
| 1966 | 3.62% | 1.86% |
| 1965 | 5.75% | 1.83% |
| 1964 | 5.53% | 1.77% |
| 1963 | 4.96% | 1.71% |
| 1962 | 4.29% | 1.65% |
| 1961 | 3.62% | 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/nauru/sierra-leone | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Nauru grew by 0.61%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.
Live population counters
|
Nauru
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
12125
|
9049533
|
| Population rank | 195/197 | 101/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0001% | 0.11% |
| One net population change |
5.07 days
|
2.9 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.21 days
|
2.03 minutes
|
| One death every |
4.1 days
|
7.5 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +497 |
| Annual growth/decline | +72 | +181,510 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.61% | +2.15% |
| Population growth rate rank | 126/197 | 47/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3 days
|
46.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -122 | -11,309 |
| Net migration rank | 82/196 | 136/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,548 | 49,997 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 191/195 | 151/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 21.3% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 29/195 | 174/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Sierra Leone
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -122 | - | -11,309 |
| 2024 | - | -121 | - | -11,000 |
| 2023 | 213 | -148 | 188,788 | -4,000 |
| 2022 | 226 | -144 | 186,625 | -4,000 |
| 2021 | 236 | -137 | 183,326 | -1,544 |
| 2020 | 246 | -214 | 181,015 | 1,292 |
| 2019 | 255 | -171 | 181,068 | -2,238 |
| 2018 | 265 | -131 | 178,772 | -2,741 |
| 2017 | 279 | -115 | 173,259 | 1,234 |
| 2016 | 289 | -105 | 168,784 | 4,657 |
| 2015 | 291 | -86 | 162,275 | -356 |
| 2014 | 290 | -69 | 160,137 | 485 |
| 2013 | 291 | -53 | 161,265 | 2,773 |
| 2012 | 292 | -38 | 160,915 | 988 |
| 2011 | 291 | -206 | 158,858 | 6,895 |
| 2010 | 281 | -246 | 155,338 | 7,983 |
| 2009 | 261 | -249 | 152,669 | 18,145 |
| 2008 | 240 | -243 | 149,855 | 1,182 |
| 2007 | 222 | -235 | 145,740 | -6,042 |
| 2006 | 209 | -224 | 144,127 | -34,052 |
| 2005 | 204 | -217 | 137,234 | -1,805 |
| 2004 | 202 | -210 | 132,661 | 23,897 |
| 2003 | 201 | -199 | 130,312 | 69,185 |
| 2002 | 200 | -247 | 126,429 | 86,578 |
| 2001 | 203 | -252 | 116,647 | 227,791 |
| 2000 | 207 | -236 | 110,754 | 83,013 |
| 1999 | 212 | -227 | 102,295 | -84,926 |
| 1998 | 214 | -217 | 103,906 | -76,766 |
| 1997 | 218 | -209 | 105,433 | -48,437 |
| 1996 | 221 | -204 | 104,140 | -52,110 |
| 1995 | 225 | -201 | 100,885 | -112,857 |
| 1994 | 229 | -196 | 101,486 | -77,371 |
| 1993 | 235 | -194 | 103,317 | -95,476 |
| 1992 | 237 | -121 | 103,251 | -129,565 |
| 1991 | 225 | 0 | 105,477 | -238,965 |
| 1990 | 214 | 20 | 100,778 | 131,587 |
| 1989 | 204 | 24 | 98,298 | -5,079 |
| 1988 | 195 | 29 | 96,344 | 9,470 |
| 1987 | 186 | 27 | 94,235 | 9,558 |
| 1986 | 178 | 21 | 90,902 | 7,992 |
| 1985 | 171 | 8 | 88,869 | -7,873 |
| 1984 | 166 | -2 | 87,072 | -8,708 |
| 1983 | 163 | -5 | 84,628 | -8,783 |
| 1982 | 162 | 30 | 82,457 | -11,379 |
| 1981 | 157 | 44 | 80,111 | -12,699 |
| 1980 | 145 | 44 | 77,932 | -11,641 |
| 1979 | 130 | 48 | 75,992 | -13,095 |
| 1978 | 111 | 40 | 74,130 | -13,073 |
| 1977 | 89 | 32 | 71,663 | -12,399 |
| 1976 | 79 | 0 | 69,506 | -15,686 |
| 1975 | 70 | 0 | 67,560 | -13,058 |
| 1974 | 63 | 0 | 65,357 | -11,473 |
| 1973 | 57 | 0 | 62,443 | -9,322 |
| 1972 | 53 | 0 | 60,279 | -8,267 |
| 1971 | 50 | 0 | 58,484 | -8,162 |
| 1970 | 49 | 0 | 56,513 | -4,957 |
| 1969 | 71 | 132 | 54,768 | -4,485 |
| 1968 | 116 | 180 | 53,126 | -3,743 |
| 1967 | 117 | -28 | 51,734 | -2,819 |
| 1966 | 123 | -32 | 49,486 | -2,911 |
| 1965 | 113 | 218 | 47,223 | -1,851 |
| 1964 | 100 | 203 | 45,487 | -2,308 |
| 1963 | 88 | 181 | 43,569 | -2,480 |
| 1962 | 75 | 158 | 41,603 | -2,658 |
| 1961 | 70 | 120 | 40,022 | -2,947 |
| 1960 | 72 | 76 | 38,192 | -3,528 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/nauru/sierra-leone | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 66.2% of the population change in Nauru is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 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, 2,548 residents or 21.3% of the population were not native-born in Nauru, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.
Biggest cities by population
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Yaren | 747 |
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Nauru and Sierra Leone
|
Nauru
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.6 years | 62.3 years |
| Average age | 25.3 years | 24.4 years |
| Median age | 21.4 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 3.33 births per woman | 3.79 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,568 ppl/mi² | 323 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/nauru/sierra-leone | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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