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Population in New Zealand compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.68 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

New Zealand vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Sierra Leone
2100 5,918,837 16,111,324
2099 5,923,132 16,126,181
2098 5,927,206 16,139,280
2097 5,930,263 16,154,153
2096 5,932,907 16,164,923
2095 5,934,847 16,173,557
2094 5,936,183 16,173,155
2093 5,938,804 16,177,864
2092 5,939,085 16,175,032
2091 5,940,665 16,168,153
2090 5,941,752 16,158,415
2089 5,944,871 16,146,773
2088 5,945,635 16,133,018
2087 5,948,586 16,116,823
2086 5,951,745 16,089,780
2085 5,955,275 16,068,438
2084 5,959,115 16,044,782
2083 5,963,613 16,011,134
2082 5,966,943 15,975,073
2081 5,968,511 15,935,071
2080 5,971,082 15,896,846
2079 5,972,331 15,854,898
2078 5,972,928 15,805,607
2077 5,971,804 15,754,551
2076 5,971,386 15,699,439
2075 5,970,985 15,639,458
2074 5,969,834 15,584,377
2073 5,968,506 15,516,736
2072 5,964,548 15,446,543
2071 5,964,493 15,374,790
2070 5,963,811 15,297,449
2069 5,962,551 15,216,666
2068 5,960,918 15,128,048
2067 5,958,438 15,032,144
2066 5,954,539 14,935,222
2065 5,950,378 14,837,697
2064 5,946,851 14,740,749
2063 5,944,910 14,642,031
2062 5,940,838 14,529,557
2061 5,939,601 14,423,861
2060 5,936,094 14,311,215
2059 5,931,426 14,198,706
2058 5,925,816 14,080,827
2057 5,919,823 13,960,869
2056 5,913,287 13,836,132
2055 5,904,352 13,706,113
2054 5,894,795 13,579,802
2053 5,884,875 13,444,465
2052 5,876,162 13,303,409
2051 5,864,176 13,156,370
2050 5,852,896 13,010,109
2049 5,844,165 12,867,021
2048 5,833,178 12,716,015
2047 5,822,035 12,570,250
2046 5,809,860 12,414,307
2045 5,795,785 12,257,874
2044 5,780,884 12,092,075
2043 5,764,579 11,931,531
2042 5,746,528 11,770,467
2041 5,727,253 11,602,993
2040 5,708,874 11,431,337
2039 5,690,018 11,262,807
2038 5,669,959 11,100,099
2037 5,650,253 10,931,629
2036 5,630,126 10,760,758
2035 5,609,155 10,585,702
2034 5,588,315 10,413,826
2033 5,565,507 10,241,196
2032 5,542,488 10,062,575
2031 5,517,391 9,883,708
2030 5,491,320 9,708,038
2029 5,462,926 9,532,000
2028 5,432,752 9,360,873
2027 5,399,898 9,179,702
2026 5,364,771 9,001,269
2025 5,327,462 8,822,114
2024 5,287,500 8,642,022
2023 5,200,000 8,460,512
2022 5,081,700 8,276,807
2021 5,084,600 8,094,602
2020 5,072,400 7,912,558
2019 4,970,300 7,731,991
2018 4,900,600 7,554,563
2017 4,813,600 7,379,299
2016 4,714,100 7,205,328
2015 4,609,400 7,037,655
2014 4,516,500 6,876,385
2013 4,442,100 6,714,051
2012 4,408,100 6,551,080
2011 4,384,000 6,387,251
2010 4,350,700 6,222,714
2009 4,302,600 6,055,646
2008 4,259,800 5,894,722
2007 4,223,800 5,749,352
2006 4,184,600 5,624,466
2005 4,133,900 5,501,712
2004 4,087,500 5,355,717
2003 4,027,200 5,177,687
2002 3,948,500 4,971,435
2001 3,880,500 4,692,716
2000 3,857,700 4,423,611
1999 3,835,100 4,318,043
1998 3,815,000 4,295,785
1997 3,781,300 4,253,716
1996 3,732,000 4,199,210
1995 3,673,400 4,179,179
1994 3,620,000 4,173,105
1993 3,572,200 4,157,130
1992 3,531,700 4,166,366
1991 3,495,100 4,246,267
1990 3,329,800 4,196,828
1989 3,299,200 4,034,037
1988 3,283,400 3,934,517
1987 3,274,400 3,829,718
1986 3,246,300 3,728,380
1985 3,247,100 3,638,438
1984 3,227,100 3,558,758
1983 3,199,300 3,481,646
1982 3,156,100 3,408,183
1981 3,124,900 3,338,940
1980 3,112,900 3,272,089
1979 3,109,000 3,207,499
1978 3,121,200 3,145,517
1977 3,120,200 3,085,354
1976 3,110,500 3,028,820
1975 3,083,100 2,974,657
1974 3,023,700 2,920,459
1973 2,961,300 2,866,955
1972 2,903,900 2,814,388
1971 2,853,000 2,763,222
1970 2,810,700 2,712,286
1969 2,772,800 2,661,365
1968 2,748,100 2,611,532
1967 2,724,100 2,562,384
1966 2,675,900 2,514,638
1965 2,628,400 2,468,666
1964 2,585,400 2,424,390
1963 2,531,800 2,382,258
1962 2,482,000 2,342,242
1961 2,419,700 2,304,227
1960 2,371,800 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/new-zealand/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th 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) New Zealand's population will grow by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people with a rank change from 124th to 122nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Sierra Leone
2100 -0.07% -0.09%
2099 -0.07% -0.08%
2098 -0.05% -0.09%
2097 -0.04% -0.07%
2096 -0.03% -0.05%
2095 -0.02% 0.002%
2094 -0.04% -0.03%
2093 -0.005% 0.02%
2092 -0.03% 0.04%
2091 -0.02% 0.06%
2090 -0.05% 0.07%
2089 -0.01% 0.09%
2088 -0.05% 0.1%
2087 -0.05% 0.17%
2086 -0.06% 0.13%
2085 -0.06% 0.15%
2084 -0.08% 0.21%
2083 -0.06% 0.23%
2082 -0.03% 0.25%
2081 -0.04% 0.24%
2080 -0.02% 0.26%
2079 -0.01% 0.31%
2078 0.02% 0.32%
2077 0.007% 0.35%
2076 0.007% 0.38%
2075 0.02% 0.35%
2074 0.02% 0.44%
2073 0.07% 0.45%
2072 0.001% 0.47%
2071 0.01% 0.51%
2070 0.02% 0.53%
2069 0.03% 0.59%
2068 0.04% 0.64%
2067 0.07% 0.65%
2066 0.07% 0.66%
2065 0.06% 0.66%
2064 0.03% 0.67%
2063 0.07% 0.77%
2062 0.02% 0.73%
2061 0.06% 0.79%
2060 0.08% 0.79%
2059 0.09% 0.84%
2058 0.1% 0.86%
2057 0.11% 0.9%
2056 0.15% 0.95%
2055 0.16% 0.93%
2054 0.17% 1.01%
2053 0.15% 1.06%
2052 0.2% 1.12%
2051 0.19% 1.12%
2050 0.15% 1.11%
2049 0.19% 1.19%
2048 0.19% 1.16%
2047 0.21% 1.26%
2046 0.24% 1.28%
2045 0.26% 1.37%
2044 0.28% 1.35%
2043 0.31% 1.37%
2042 0.34% 1.44%
2041 0.32% 1.5%
2040 0.33% 1.5%
2039 0.35% 1.47%
2038 0.35% 1.54%
2037 0.36% 1.59%
2036 0.37% 1.65%
2035 0.37% 1.65%
2034 0.41% 1.69%
2033 0.42% 1.78%
2032 0.45% 1.81%
2031 0.47% 1.81%
2030 0.52% 1.85%
2029 0.56% 1.83%
2028 0.61% 1.97%
2027 0.65% 1.98%
2026 0.7% 2.03%
2025 0.76% 2.08%
2024 1.68% 2.15%
2023 2.33% 2.22%
2022 -0.06% 2.25%
2021 0.24% 2.3%
2020 2.05% 2.34%
2019 1.42% 2.35%
2018 1.81% 2.38%
2017 2.11% 2.41%
2016 2.27% 2.38%
2015 2.06% 2.35%
2014 1.67% 2.42%
2013 0.77% 2.49%
2012 0.55% 2.56%
2011 0.77% 2.64%
2010 1.12% 2.76%
2009 1% 2.73%
2008 0.85% 2.53%
2007 0.94% 2.22%
2006 1.23% 2.23%
2005 1.14% 2.73%
2004 1.5% 3.44%
2003 1.99% 4.15%
2002 1.75% 5.94%
2001 0.59% 6.08%
2000 0.59% 2.44%
1999 0.53% 0.52%
1998 0.89% 0.99%
1997 1.32% 1.3%
1996 1.6% 0.48%
1995 1.48% 0.15%
1994 1.34% 0.38%
1993 1.15% -0.22%
1992 1.05% -1.88%
1991 4.96% 1.18%
1990 0.93% 4.04%
1989 0.48% 2.53%
1988 0.27% 2.74%
1987 0.87% 2.72%
1986 -0.02% 2.47%
1985 0.62% 2.24%
1984 0.87% 2.21%
1983 1.37% 2.16%
1982 1% 2.07%
1981 0.39% 2.04%
1980 0.13% 2.01%
1979 -0.39% 1.97%
1978 0.03% 1.95%
1977 0.31% 1.87%
1976 0.89% 1.82%
1975 1.96% 1.86%
1974 2.11% 1.87%
1973 1.98% 1.87%
1972 1.78% 1.85%
1971 1.5% 1.88%
1970 1.37% 1.91%
1969 0.9% 1.91%
1968 0.88% 1.92%
1967 1.8% 1.9%
1966 1.81% 1.86%
1965 1.66% 1.83%
1964 2.12% 1.77%
1963 2.01% 1.71%
1962 2.57% 1.65%
1961 2.02% 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/new-zealand/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Sierra Leone
Current population
5374272
9049533
Population rank 124/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.11%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +497
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 47/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 -11,309
Net migration rank 35/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -11,309
2024 - 18,766 - -11,000
2023 18,876 21,404 188,788 -4,000
2022 20,123 21,404 186,625 -4,000
2021 23,644 -14,944 183,326 -1,544
2020 24,905 42,124 181,015 1,292
2019 25,299 69,770 181,068 -2,238
2018 24,797 59,139 178,772 -2,741
2017 26,282 68,349 173,259 1,234
2016 28,237 75,512 168,784 4,657
2015 29,408 70,870 162,275 -356
2014 26,196 57,974 160,137 485
2013 29,096 26,385 161,265 2,773
2012 31,077 -1,015 160,915 988
2011 31,302 -2,196 158,858 6,895
2010 35,458 6,722 155,338 7,983
2009 33,560 12,700 152,669 18,145
2008 35,143 4,804 149,855 1,182
2007 35,480 3,053 145,740 -6,042
2006 30,924 14,542 144,127 -34,052
2005 30,674 19,212 137,234 -1,805
2004 29,634 24,521 132,661 23,897
2003 28,150 42,456 130,312 69,185
2002 25,941 48,195 126,429 86,578
2001 27,939 17,793 116,647 227,791
2000 29,897 -6,604 110,754 83,013
1999 28,916 -7,634 102,295 -84,926
1998 29,146 -1,387 103,906 -76,766
1997 30,137 12,040 105,433 -48,437
1996 28,997 25,169 104,140 -52,110
1995 29,828 26,743 100,885 -112,857
1994 30,372 20,420 101,486 -77,371
1993 31,685 12,638 103,317 -95,476
1992 32,067 6,460 103,251 -129,565
1991 33,518 31,156 105,477 -238,965
1990 33,298 70,432 100,778 131,587
1989 30,749 -8,818 98,298 -5,079
1988 29,846 -17,005 96,344 9,470
1987 27,603 -7,631 94,235 9,558
1986 25,549 -10,234 90,902 7,992
1985 24,126 -13,462 88,869 -7,873
1984 26,043 -901 87,072 -8,708
1983 24,315 11,464 84,628 -8,783
1982 24,207 7,982 82,457 -11,379
1981 25,374 -7,606 80,111 -12,699
1980 23,658 -15,423 77,932 -11,641
1979 26,675 -26,694 75,992 -13,095
1978 26,156 -28,783 74,130 -13,073
1977 28,020 -22,697 71,663 -12,399
1976 29,456 -9,138 69,506 -15,686
1975 31,355 13,196 67,560 -13,058
1974 33,896 27,580 65,357 -11,473
1973 35,239 28,261 62,443 -9,322
1972 38,244 17,779 60,279 -8,267
1971 40,000 7,547 58,484 -8,162
1970 37,101 4,511 56,513 -4,957
1969 38,098 -5,212 54,768 -4,485
1968 37,594 -11,853 53,126 -3,743
1967 37,974 -2,289 51,734 -2,819
1966 36,151 9,161 49,486 -2,911
1965 36,982 9,245 47,223 -1,851
1964 39,375 9,806 45,487 -2,308
1963 42,027 10,226 43,569 -2,480
1962 42,865 12,697 41,603 -2,658
1961 43,482 10,689 40,022 -2,947
1960 41,791 3,846 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/sierra-leone | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 34.4% of the population change in New Zealand is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 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, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K
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/new-zealand/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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