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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 232,679,478 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 243,824,469 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 26.9 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 3.05% of the world: 2.94% for Nigeria vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 244M (63.6% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Nigeria vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2100 481,678,166 16,111,324
2099 481,494,914 16,126,181
2098 481,219,866 16,139,280
2097 480,876,108 16,154,153
2096 480,460,381 16,164,923
2095 479,976,454 16,173,557
2094 479,432,855 16,173,155
2093 478,807,152 16,177,864
2092 478,097,591 16,175,032
2091 477,274,569 16,168,153
2090 476,367,086 16,158,415
2089 475,363,859 16,146,773
2088 474,268,867 16,133,018
2087 473,072,894 16,116,823
2086 471,769,229 16,089,780
2085 470,365,292 16,068,438
2084 468,843,169 16,044,782
2083 467,224,322 16,011,134
2082 465,509,151 15,975,073
2081 463,679,779 15,935,071
2080 461,741,930 15,896,846
2079 459,680,797 15,854,898
2078 457,513,367 15,805,607
2077 455,254,796 15,754,551
2076 452,885,729 15,699,439
2075 450,402,898 15,639,458
2074 447,825,224 15,584,377
2073 445,152,156 15,516,736
2072 442,375,349 15,446,543
2071 439,499,004 15,374,790
2070 436,539,777 15,297,449
2069 433,472,204 15,216,666
2068 430,320,190 15,128,048
2067 427,066,199 15,032,144
2066 423,736,078 14,935,222
2065 420,318,527 14,837,697
2064 416,811,285 14,740,749
2063 413,231,409 14,642,031
2062 409,583,480 14,529,557
2061 405,859,509 14,423,861
2060 402,073,494 14,311,215
2059 398,228,736 14,198,706
2058 394,315,883 14,080,827
2057 390,341,867 13,960,869
2056 386,298,064 13,836,132
2055 382,193,151 13,706,113
2054 378,030,342 13,579,802
2053 373,799,276 13,444,465
2052 369,501,634 13,303,409
2051 365,149,555 13,156,370
2050 360,734,783 13,010,109
2049 356,271,401 12,867,021
2048 351,752,501 12,716,015
2047 347,169,674 12,570,250
2046 342,532,578 12,414,307
2045 337,834,528 12,257,874
2044 333,076,416 12,092,075
2043 328,256,555 11,931,531
2042 323,388,886 11,770,467
2041 318,469,120 11,602,993
2040 313,492,800 11,431,337
2039 308,474,350 11,262,807
2038 303,423,786 11,100,099
2037 298,351,344 10,931,629
2036 293,250,795 10,760,758
2035 288,138,368 10,585,702
2034 283,018,151 10,413,826
2033 277,897,810 10,241,196
2032 272,769,123 10,062,575
2031 267,666,779 9,883,708
2030 262,583,487 9,708,038
2029 257,504,936 9,532,000
2028 252,465,743 9,360,873
2027 247,457,208 9,179,702
2026 242,477,499 9,001,269
2025 237,546,527 8,822,114
2024 232,679,478 8,642,022
2023 227,882,945 8,460,512
2022 223,150,896 8,276,807
2021 218,529,286 8,094,602
2020 213,996,181 7,912,558
2019 209,485,641 7,731,991
2018 204,938,755 7,554,563
2017 200,254,579 7,379,299
2016 195,443,700 7,205,328
2015 190,671,878 7,037,655
2014 185,896,915 6,876,385
2013 181,049,443 6,714,051
2012 176,200,625 6,551,080
2011 171,379,598 6,387,251
2010 166,642,886 6,222,714
2009 162,049,464 6,055,646
2008 157,595,014 5,894,722
2007 153,267,261 5,749,352
2006 149,077,334 5,624,466
2005 145,017,253 5,501,712
2004 141,057,045 5,355,717
2003 137,202,644 5,177,687
2002 133,471,989 4,971,435
2001 129,862,595 4,692,716
2000 126,382,494 4,423,611
1999 123,047,320 4,318,043
1998 119,846,254 4,295,785
1997 116,754,792 4,253,716
1996 113,754,779 4,199,210
1995 110,819,428 4,179,179
1994 107,935,714 4,173,105
1993 105,122,069 4,157,130
1992 102,372,770 4,166,366
1991 99,720,162 4,246,267
1990 97,120,925 4,196,828
1989 94,531,014 4,034,037
1988 92,020,090 3,934,517
1987 89,591,716 3,829,718
1986 87,235,953 3,728,380
1985 84,897,973 3,638,438
1984 82,526,443 3,558,758
1983 80,438,260 3,481,646
1982 78,378,701 3,408,183
1981 76,068,103 3,338,940
1980 73,764,641 3,272,089
1979 71,498,242 3,207,499
1978 69,326,532 3,145,517
1977 67,234,590 3,085,354
1976 65,258,009 3,028,820
1975 63,410,815 2,974,657
1974 61,679,144 2,920,459
1973 60,082,139 2,866,955
1972 58,601,748 2,814,388
1971 57,214,684 2,763,222
1970 55,893,838 2,712,286
1969 54,631,914 2,661,365
1968 53,432,783 2,611,532
1967 52,293,065 2,562,384
1966 51,188,234 2,514,638
1965 50,086,764 2,468,666
1964 49,012,016 2,424,390
1963 47,973,575 2,382,258
1962 46,965,292 2,342,242
1961 45,989,310 2,304,227
1960 45,053,782 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/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nigeria increased by 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nigeria gained 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th 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) Nigeria's population will grow by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2100 0.04% -0.09%
2099 0.06% -0.08%
2098 0.07% -0.09%
2097 0.09% -0.07%
2096 0.1% -0.05%
2095 0.11% 0.002%
2094 0.13% -0.03%
2093 0.15% 0.02%
2092 0.17% 0.04%
2091 0.19% 0.06%
2090 0.21% 0.07%
2089 0.23% 0.09%
2088 0.25% 0.1%
2087 0.28% 0.17%
2086 0.3% 0.13%
2085 0.32% 0.15%
2084 0.35% 0.21%
2083 0.37% 0.23%
2082 0.39% 0.25%
2081 0.42% 0.24%
2080 0.45% 0.26%
2079 0.47% 0.31%
2078 0.5% 0.32%
2077 0.52% 0.35%
2076 0.55% 0.38%
2075 0.58% 0.35%
2074 0.6% 0.44%
2073 0.63% 0.45%
2072 0.65% 0.47%
2071 0.68% 0.51%
2070 0.71% 0.53%
2069 0.73% 0.59%
2068 0.76% 0.64%
2067 0.79% 0.65%
2066 0.81% 0.66%
2065 0.84% 0.66%
2064 0.87% 0.67%
2063 0.89% 0.77%
2062 0.92% 0.73%
2061 0.94% 0.79%
2060 0.97% 0.79%
2059 0.99% 0.84%
2058 1.02% 0.86%
2057 1.05% 0.9%
2056 1.07% 0.95%
2055 1.1% 0.93%
2054 1.13% 1.01%
2053 1.16% 1.06%
2052 1.19% 1.12%
2051 1.22% 1.12%
2050 1.25% 1.11%
2049 1.28% 1.19%
2048 1.32% 1.16%
2047 1.35% 1.26%
2046 1.39% 1.28%
2045 1.43% 1.37%
2044 1.47% 1.35%
2043 1.51% 1.37%
2042 1.54% 1.44%
2041 1.59% 1.5%
2040 1.63% 1.5%
2039 1.66% 1.47%
2038 1.7% 1.54%
2037 1.74% 1.59%
2036 1.77% 1.65%
2035 1.81% 1.65%
2034 1.84% 1.69%
2033 1.88% 1.78%
2032 1.91% 1.81%
2031 1.94% 1.81%
2030 1.97% 1.85%
2029 2% 1.83%
2028 2.02% 1.97%
2027 2.05% 1.98%
2026 2.08% 2.03%
2025 2.09% 2.08%
2024 2.1% 2.15%
2023 2.12% 2.22%
2022 2.11% 2.25%
2021 2.12% 2.3%
2020 2.15% 2.34%
2019 2.22% 2.35%
2018 2.34% 2.38%
2017 2.46% 2.41%
2016 2.5% 2.38%
2015 2.57% 2.35%
2014 2.68% 2.42%
2013 2.75% 2.49%
2012 2.81% 2.56%
2011 2.84% 2.64%
2010 2.83% 2.76%
2009 2.83% 2.73%
2008 2.82% 2.53%
2007 2.81% 2.22%
2006 2.8% 2.23%
2005 2.81% 2.73%
2004 2.81% 3.44%
2003 2.8% 4.15%
2002 2.78% 5.94%
2001 2.75% 6.08%
2000 2.71% 2.44%
1999 2.67% 0.52%
1998 2.65% 0.99%
1997 2.64% 1.3%
1996 2.65% 0.48%
1995 2.67% 0.15%
1994 2.68% 0.38%
1993 2.69% -0.22%
1992 2.66% -1.88%
1991 2.68% 1.18%
1990 2.74% 4.04%
1989 2.73% 2.53%
1988 2.71% 2.74%
1987 2.7% 2.72%
1986 2.75% 2.47%
1985 2.87% 2.24%
1984 2.6% 2.21%
1983 2.63% 2.16%
1982 3.04% 2.07%
1981 3.12% 2.04%
1980 3.17% 2.01%
1979 3.13% 1.97%
1978 3.11% 1.95%
1977 3.03% 1.87%
1976 2.91% 1.82%
1975 2.81% 1.86%
1974 2.66% 1.87%
1973 2.53% 1.87%
1972 2.42% 1.85%
1971 2.36% 1.88%
1970 2.31% 1.91%
1969 2.24% 1.91%
1968 2.18% 1.92%
1967 2.16% 1.9%
1966 2.2% 1.86%
1965 2.19% 1.83%
1964 2.16% 1.77%
1963 2.15% 1.71%
1962 2.12% 1.65%
1961 2.08% 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/nigeria/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.1%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Sierra Leone
Current population
243824469
9049533
Population rank 6/197 101/197
Percent of world population 2.94% 0.11%
One net population change
6.58 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
4.2 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
11.8 seconds
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,141 +497
Annual growth/decline +4,796,533 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.1% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 48/197 47/197
One migration net change every
34.5 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -15,258 -11,309
Net migration rank 145/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,403,281 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 49/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 173/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nigeria
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nigeria Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,258 - -11,309
2024 - -35,202 - -11,000
2023 4,834,309 -57,936 188,788 -4,000
2022 4,739,502 -51,680 186,625 -4,000
2021 4,641,562 -86,115 183,326 -1,544
2020 4,525,164 -14,497 181,015 1,292
2019 4,609,941 -99,722 181,068 -2,238
2018 4,659,898 -76,565 178,772 -2,741
2017 4,706,183 78,685 173,259 1,234
2016 4,761,594 75,265 168,784 4,657
2015 4,823,045 -116,162 162,275 -356
2014 4,862,319 -19,376 160,137 485
2013 4,811,751 40,201 161,265 2,773
2012 4,774,508 71,138 160,915 988
2011 4,728,363 67,808 158,858 6,895
2010 4,629,173 47,966 155,338 7,983
2009 4,528,149 -18,422 152,669 18,145
2008 4,412,976 -13,646 149,855 1,182
2007 4,265,428 -9,162 145,740 -6,042
2006 4,135,703 -12,093 144,127 -34,052
2005 4,013,788 -17,146 137,234 -1,805
2004 3,877,376 46,370 132,661 23,897
2003 3,751,120 33,857 130,312 69,185
2002 3,606,814 69,594 126,429 86,578
2001 3,478,370 64,163 116,647 227,791
2000 3,343,196 74,535 110,754 83,013
1999 3,155,425 97,195 102,295 -84,926
1998 3,003,946 145,575 103,906 -76,766
1997 2,936,500 96,885 105,433 -48,437
1996 2,882,205 84,448 104,140 -52,110
1995 2,830,771 73,243 100,885 -112,857
1994 2,735,198 128,134 101,486 -77,371
1993 2,673,675 90,200 103,317 -95,476
1992 2,596,173 138,412 103,251 -129,565
1991 2,527,807 42,760 105,477 -238,965
1990 2,491,928 135,959 100,778 131,587
1989 2,452,324 99,588 98,298 -5,079
1988 2,376,419 93,510 96,344 9,470
1987 2,322,397 64,418 94,235 9,558
1986 2,295,003 29,682 90,902 7,992
1985 2,289,784 61,514 88,869 -7,873
1984 2,278,060 113,758 87,072 -8,708
1983 2,292,089 -507,539 84,628 -8,783
1982 2,233,401 101,116 82,457 -11,379
1981 2,179,884 106,723 80,111 -12,699
1980 2,121,618 198,672 77,932 -11,641
1979 2,074,807 137,721 75,992 -13,095
1978 2,019,621 111,258 74,130 -13,073
1977 1,923,917 129,075 71,663 -12,399
1976 1,827,289 72,889 69,506 -15,686
1975 1,718,623 75,603 67,560 -13,058
1974 1,624,813 44,281 65,357 -11,473
1973 1,525,485 -618 62,443 -9,322
1972 1,448,928 -12,962 60,279 -8,267
1971 1,373,896 -35,639 58,484 -8,162
1970 1,295,507 7,953 56,513 -4,957
1969 1,213,484 6,912 54,768 -4,485
1968 1,168,254 9,615 53,126 -3,743
1967 1,082,884 18,683 51,734 -2,819
1966 1,095,582 12,513 49,486 -2,911
1965 1,061,840 32,988 47,223 -1,851
1964 1,028,272 26,411 45,487 -2,308
1963 995,116 27,115 43,569 -2,480
1962 966,452 27,906 41,603 -2,658
1961 932,111 25,515 40,022 -2,947
1960 901,301 12,131 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.2% of the population change in Nigeria is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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, 1,403,281 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nigeria, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
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/nigeria/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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