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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 7,007,502 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,144,725 people compared to 9,090,531 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 100th.
  • 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 +1.32% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.14M (31.8% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Nicaragua vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Sierra Leone
2100 8,686,387 16,107,087
2099 8,722,801 16,121,940
2098 8,758,489 16,135,035
2097 8,793,005 16,149,905
2096 8,826,676 16,160,672
2095 8,859,393 16,169,304
2094 8,890,985 16,168,902
2093 8,922,511 16,173,609
2092 8,952,706 16,170,778
2091 8,982,238 16,163,901
2090 9,010,281 16,154,165
2089 9,037,910 16,142,526
2088 9,064,058 16,128,775
2087 9,089,133 16,112,585
2086 9,113,522 16,085,549
2085 9,136,545 16,064,212
2084 9,158,382 16,040,563
2083 9,178,656 16,006,923
2082 9,197,809 15,970,872
2081 9,215,739 15,930,880
2080 9,231,840 15,892,665
2079 9,246,154 15,850,728
2078 9,258,426 15,801,450
2077 9,269,451 15,750,408
2076 9,278,508 15,695,310
2075 9,285,415 15,635,345
2074 9,291,490 15,580,279
2073 9,295,367 15,512,655
2072 9,297,079 15,442,481
2071 9,296,698 15,370,747
2070 9,294,691 15,293,426
2069 9,290,396 15,212,664
2068 9,283,672 15,124,069
2067 9,275,227 15,028,190
2066 9,264,219 14,931,295
2065 9,251,518 14,833,794
2064 9,236,612 14,736,872
2063 9,219,426 14,638,180
2062 9,199,856 14,525,736
2061 9,178,404 14,420,068
2060 9,154,342 14,307,451
2059 9,127,668 14,194,972
2058 9,098,625 14,077,124
2057 9,067,965 13,957,197
2056 9,035,277 13,832,494
2055 9,000,212 13,702,508
2054 8,962,862 13,576,231
2053 8,923,471 13,440,929
2052 8,881,555 13,299,910
2051 8,836,892 13,152,910
2050 8,789,897 13,006,688
2049 8,741,263 12,863,637
2048 8,689,971 12,712,671
2047 8,636,574 12,566,944
2046 8,581,536 12,411,042
2045 8,524,256 12,254,651
2044 8,464,984 12,088,895
2043 8,404,060 11,928,393
2042 8,341,211 11,767,372
2041 8,276,512 11,599,942
2040 8,209,876 11,428,331
2039 8,141,726 11,259,845
2038 8,071,337 11,097,180
2037 7,999,109 10,928,754
2036 7,925,391 10,757,928
2035 7,849,978 10,582,918
2034 7,772,780 10,411,088
2033 7,693,975 10,238,503
2032 7,613,757 10,059,929
2031 7,531,669 9,881,109
2030 7,448,359 9,705,485
2029 7,363,385 9,529,493
2028 7,276,613 9,358,412
2027 7,188,324 9,177,288
2026 7,098,677 8,998,902
2025 7,007,502 8,819,794
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 912,059 people (a 14.6% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23% to 8,789,897 people with a rank change from 107th to 109th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th 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 1.32% 2.06%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.32%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Sierra Leone
Current population
7144725
9090531
Population rank 107/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.11%
One net population change
5.77 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
3.97 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
16.4 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +250 +487
Annual growth/decline +91,362 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +1.32% +2.06%
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 100,318 -8,189 189,234 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 86.7% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 people). In Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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