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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.27 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Nicaragua vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Sierra Leone
2100 8,688,116 16,111,324
2099 8,724,538 16,126,181
2098 8,760,232 16,139,280
2097 8,794,755 16,154,153
2096 8,828,433 16,164,923
2095 8,861,157 16,173,557
2094 8,892,755 16,173,155
2093 8,924,287 16,177,864
2092 8,954,488 16,175,032
2091 8,984,026 16,168,153
2090 9,012,075 16,158,415
2089 9,039,709 16,146,773
2088 9,065,862 16,133,018
2087 9,090,942 16,116,823
2086 9,115,336 16,089,780
2085 9,138,363 16,068,438
2084 9,160,205 16,044,782
2083 9,180,483 16,011,134
2082 9,199,639 15,975,073
2081 9,217,574 15,935,071
2080 9,233,677 15,896,846
2079 9,247,995 15,854,898
2078 9,260,269 15,805,607
2077 9,271,296 15,754,551
2076 9,280,355 15,699,439
2075 9,287,263 15,639,458
2074 9,293,340 15,584,377
2073 9,297,217 15,516,736
2072 9,298,930 15,446,543
2071 9,298,548 15,374,790
2070 9,296,541 15,297,449
2069 9,292,245 15,216,666
2068 9,285,519 15,128,048
2067 9,277,073 15,032,144
2066 9,266,063 14,935,222
2065 9,253,359 14,837,697
2064 9,238,451 14,740,749
2063 9,221,261 14,642,031
2062 9,201,687 14,529,557
2061 9,180,231 14,423,861
2060 9,156,164 14,311,215
2059 9,129,485 14,198,706
2058 9,100,437 14,080,827
2057 9,069,770 13,960,869
2056 9,037,076 13,836,132
2055 9,002,004 13,706,113
2054 8,964,646 13,579,802
2053 8,925,248 13,444,465
2052 8,883,323 13,303,409
2051 8,838,651 13,156,370
2050 8,791,647 13,010,109
2049 8,743,003 12,867,021
2048 8,691,701 12,716,015
2047 8,638,293 12,570,250
2046 8,583,244 12,414,307
2045 8,525,953 12,257,874
2044 8,466,669 12,092,075
2043 8,405,733 11,931,531
2042 8,342,871 11,770,467
2041 8,278,159 11,602,993
2040 8,211,510 11,431,337
2039 8,143,346 11,262,807
2038 8,072,943 11,100,099
2037 8,000,701 10,931,629
2036 7,926,969 10,760,758
2035 7,851,540 10,585,702
2034 7,774,327 10,413,826
2033 7,695,506 10,241,196
2032 7,615,273 10,062,575
2031 7,533,169 9,883,708
2030 7,449,842 9,708,038
2029 7,364,850 9,532,000
2028 7,278,061 9,360,873
2027 7,189,755 9,179,702
2026 7,100,090 9,001,269
2025 7,008,896 8,822,114
2024 6,916,140 8,642,022
2023 6,823,613 8,460,512
2022 6,730,654 8,276,807
2021 6,644,741 8,094,602
2020 6,565,267 7,912,558
2019 6,483,657 7,731,991
2018 6,400,080 7,554,563
2017 6,316,231 7,379,299
2016 6,232,666 7,205,328
2015 6,149,417 7,037,655
2014 6,066,492 6,876,385
2013 5,983,845 6,714,051
2012 5,901,287 6,551,080
2011 5,819,051 6,387,251
2010 5,737,450 6,222,714
2009 5,656,601 6,055,646
2008 5,576,593 5,894,722
2007 5,497,243 5,749,352
2006 5,418,855 5,624,466
2005 5,342,105 5,501,712
2004 5,272,912 5,355,717
2003 5,210,963 5,177,687
2002 5,149,909 4,971,435
2001 5,087,825 4,692,716
2000 5,022,633 4,423,611
1999 4,954,018 4,318,043
1998 4,883,655 4,295,785
1997 4,809,573 4,253,716
1996 4,729,974 4,199,210
1995 4,642,931 4,179,179
1994 4,549,316 4,173,105
1993 4,453,732 4,157,130
1992 4,357,026 4,166,366
1991 4,259,637 4,246,267
1990 4,162,559 4,196,828
1989 4,066,476 4,034,037
1988 3,972,320 3,934,517
1987 3,882,164 3,829,718
1986 3,794,157 3,728,380
1985 3,706,479 3,638,438
1984 3,619,104 3,558,758
1983 3,530,282 3,481,646
1982 3,438,745 3,408,183
1981 3,345,674 3,338,940
1980 3,252,403 3,272,089
1979 3,164,525 3,207,499
1978 3,080,314 3,145,517
1977 2,992,534 3,085,354
1976 2,903,851 3,028,820
1975 2,816,943 2,974,657
1974 2,732,075 2,920,459
1973 2,649,278 2,866,955
1972 2,573,578 2,814,388
1971 2,499,825 2,763,222
1970 2,423,065 2,712,286
1969 2,348,398 2,661,365
1968 2,275,836 2,611,532
1967 2,205,567 2,562,384
1966 2,137,820 2,514,638
1965 2,072,681 2,468,666
1964 2,010,176 2,424,390
1963 1,950,159 2,382,258
1962 1,892,320 2,342,242
1961 1,836,451 2,304,227
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Sierra Leone
2100 -0.42% -0.09%
2099 -0.41% -0.08%
2098 -0.39% -0.09%
2097 -0.38% -0.07%
2096 -0.37% -0.05%
2095 -0.36% 0.002%
2094 -0.35% -0.03%
2093 -0.34% 0.02%
2092 -0.33% 0.04%
2091 -0.31% 0.06%
2090 -0.31% 0.07%
2089 -0.29% 0.09%
2088 -0.28% 0.1%
2087 -0.27% 0.17%
2086 -0.25% 0.13%
2085 -0.24% 0.15%
2084 -0.22% 0.21%
2083 -0.21% 0.23%
2082 -0.19% 0.25%
2081 -0.17% 0.24%
2080 -0.15% 0.26%
2079 -0.13% 0.31%
2078 -0.12% 0.32%
2077 -0.1% 0.35%
2076 -0.07% 0.38%
2075 -0.07% 0.35%
2074 -0.04% 0.44%
2073 -0.02% 0.45%
2072 0.004% 0.47%
2071 0.02% 0.51%
2070 0.05% 0.53%
2069 0.07% 0.59%
2068 0.09% 0.64%
2067 0.12% 0.65%
2066 0.14% 0.66%
2065 0.16% 0.66%
2064 0.19% 0.67%
2063 0.21% 0.77%
2062 0.23% 0.73%
2061 0.26% 0.79%
2060 0.29% 0.79%
2059 0.32% 0.84%
2058 0.34% 0.86%
2057 0.36% 0.9%
2056 0.39% 0.95%
2055 0.42% 0.93%
2054 0.44% 1.01%
2053 0.47% 1.06%
2052 0.51% 1.12%
2051 0.53% 1.12%
2050 0.56% 1.11%
2049 0.59% 1.19%
2048 0.62% 1.16%
2047 0.64% 1.26%
2046 0.67% 1.28%
2045 0.7% 1.37%
2044 0.72% 1.35%
2043 0.75% 1.37%
2042 0.78% 1.44%
2041 0.81% 1.5%
2040 0.84% 1.5%
2039 0.87% 1.47%
2038 0.9% 1.54%
2037 0.93% 1.59%
2036 0.96% 1.65%
2035 0.99% 1.65%
2034 1.02% 1.69%
2033 1.05% 1.78%
2032 1.09% 1.81%
2031 1.12% 1.81%
2030 1.15% 1.85%
2029 1.19% 1.83%
2028 1.23% 1.97%
2027 1.26% 1.98%
2026 1.3% 2.03%
2025 1.34% 2.08%
2024 1.36% 2.15%
2023 1.38% 2.22%
2022 1.29% 2.25%
2021 1.21% 2.3%
2020 1.26% 2.34%
2019 1.31% 2.35%
2018 1.33% 2.38%
2017 1.34% 2.41%
2016 1.35% 2.38%
2015 1.37% 2.35%
2014 1.38% 2.42%
2013 1.4% 2.49%
2012 1.41% 2.56%
2011 1.42% 2.64%
2010 1.43% 2.76%
2009 1.43% 2.73%
2008 1.44% 2.53%
2007 1.45% 2.22%
2006 1.44% 2.23%
2005 1.31% 2.73%
2004 1.19% 3.44%
2003 1.19% 4.15%
2002 1.22% 5.94%
2001 1.3% 6.08%
2000 1.39% 2.44%
1999 1.44% 0.52%
1998 1.54% 0.99%
1997 1.68% 1.3%
1996 1.87% 0.48%
1995 2.06% 0.15%
1994 2.15% 0.38%
1993 2.22% -0.22%
1992 2.29% -1.88%
1991 2.33% 1.18%
1990 2.36% 4.04%
1989 2.37% 2.53%
1988 2.32% 2.74%
1987 2.32% 2.72%
1986 2.37% 2.47%
1985 2.41% 2.24%
1984 2.52% 2.21%
1983 2.66% 2.16%
1982 2.78% 2.07%
1981 2.87% 2.04%
1980 2.78% 2.01%
1979 2.73% 1.97%
1978 2.93% 1.95%
1977 3.05% 1.87%
1976 3.09% 1.82%
1975 3.11% 1.86%
1974 3.13% 1.87%
1973 2.94% 1.87%
1972 2.95% 1.85%
1971 3.17% 1.88%
1970 3.18% 1.91%
1969 3.19% 1.91%
1968 3.19% 1.92%
1967 3.17% 1.9%
1966 3.14% 1.86%
1965 3.11% 1.83%
1964 3.08% 1.77%
1963 3.06% 1.71%
1962 3.04% 1.65%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Sierra Leone
Current population
7124343
9049533
Population rank 107/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.11%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +497
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 -11,309
Net migration rank 129/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - -11,309
2024 - -8,189 - -11,000
2023 100,921 -7,996 188,788 -4,000
2022 100,987 -7,996 186,625 -4,000
2021 89,213 -10,383 183,326 -1,544
2020 90,515 -10,383 181,015 1,292
2019 102,817 -19,730 181,068 -2,238
2018 104,814 -20,742 178,772 -2,741
2017 105,468 -21,849 173,259 1,234
2016 106,585 -23,076 168,784 4,657
2015 107,344 -24,353 162,275 -356
2014 108,420 -25,570 160,137 485
2013 109,032 -26,587 161,265 2,773
2012 110,065 -27,389 160,915 988
2011 110,026 -28,221 158,858 6,895
2010 110,475 -29,081 155,338 7,983
2009 110,213 -29,913 152,669 18,145
2008 110,395 -30,675 149,855 1,182
2007 110,341 -31,357 145,740 -6,042
2006 110,073 -32,274 144,127 -34,052
2005 108,984 -33,280 137,234 -1,805
2004 106,904 -44,222 132,661 23,897
2003 106,142 -44,931 130,312 69,185
2002 105,805 -44,906 126,429 86,578
2001 107,109 -43,837 116,647 227,791
2000 109,192 -42,087 110,754 83,013
1999 110,217 -40,095 102,295 -84,926
1998 108,862 -38,260 103,906 -76,766
1997 114,415 -36,851 105,433 -48,437
1996 116,849 -35,208 104,140 -52,110
1995 118,325 -25,889 100,885 -112,857
1994 119,565 -24,773 101,486 -77,371
1993 120,469 -24,091 103,317 -95,476
1992 121,204 -24,171 103,251 -129,565
1991 121,787 -24,028 105,477 -238,965
1990 120,677 -24,280 100,778 131,587
1989 120,128 -24,364 98,298 -5,079
1988 117,299 -24,753 96,344 9,470
1987 112,885 -25,127 94,235 9,558
1986 113,054 -24,805 90,902 7,992
1985 110,949 -23,840 88,869 -7,873
1984 110,133 -22,493 87,072 -8,708
1983 110,618 -20,620 84,628 -8,783
1982 112,468 -19,395 82,457 -11,379
1981 110,421 -17,353 80,111 -12,699
1980 108,604 -15,130 77,932 -11,641
1979 96,429 -14,152 75,992 -13,095
1978 98,419 -12,273 74,130 -13,073
1977 100,498 -11,082 71,663 -12,399
1976 98,100 -10,155 69,506 -15,686
1975 95,230 -9,349 67,560 -13,058
1974 92,505 -8,639 65,357 -11,473
1973 89,662 -7,947 62,443 -9,322
1972 76,906 -7,219 60,279 -8,267
1971 84,139 -6,328 58,484 -8,162
1970 81,127 -5,423 56,513 -4,957
1969 78,237 -4,592 54,768 -4,485
1968 75,458 -3,979 53,126 -3,743
1967 72,722 -3,666 51,734 -2,819
1966 69,883 -3,443 49,486 -2,911
1965 67,056 -3,231 47,223 -1,851
1964 64,227 -3,043 45,487 -2,308
1963 61,738 -2,881 43,569 -2,480
1962 59,547 -2,727 41,603 -2,658
1961 57,499 -2,579 40,022 -2,947
1960 55,664 -2,418 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/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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