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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nigeria was 237,527,782 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nigeria's population is 245,016,045 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 27 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Nigeria is ranked the 6th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 3.06% of the world: 2.95% for Nigeria vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Nigeria has had an average growth rate of +2.25% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nigeria has increased from 149M people to 245M (64.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Nigeria vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Nigeria
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nigeria Sierra Leone
2100 481,640,156 16,107,087
2099 481,456,918 16,121,940
2098 481,181,892 16,135,035
2097 480,838,161 16,149,905
2096 480,422,467 16,160,672
2095 479,938,579 16,169,304
2094 479,395,022 16,168,902
2093 478,769,369 16,173,609
2092 478,059,864 16,170,778
2091 477,236,907 16,163,901
2090 476,329,495 16,154,165
2089 475,326,347 16,142,526
2088 474,231,442 16,128,775
2087 473,035,563 16,112,585
2086 471,732,001 16,085,549
2085 470,328,175 16,064,212
2084 468,806,172 16,040,563
2083 467,187,453 16,006,923
2082 465,472,417 15,970,872
2081 463,643,190 15,930,880
2080 461,705,493 15,892,665
2079 459,644,523 15,850,728
2078 457,477,264 15,801,450
2077 455,218,871 15,750,408
2076 452,849,991 15,695,310
2075 450,367,356 15,635,345
2074 447,789,885 15,580,279
2073 445,117,028 15,512,655
2072 442,340,440 15,442,481
2071 439,464,323 15,370,747
2070 436,505,329 15,293,426
2069 433,437,998 15,212,664
2068 430,286,232 15,124,069
2067 427,032,499 15,028,190
2066 423,702,640 14,931,295
2065 420,285,359 14,833,794
2064 416,778,394 14,736,872
2063 413,198,800 14,638,180
2062 409,551,159 14,525,736
2061 405,827,482 14,420,068
2060 402,041,765 14,307,451
2059 398,197,311 14,194,972
2058 394,284,767 14,077,124
2057 390,311,065 13,957,197
2056 386,267,580 13,832,494
2055 382,162,992 13,702,508
2054 378,000,511 13,576,231
2053 373,769,779 13,440,929
2052 369,472,476 13,299,910
2051 365,120,741 13,152,910
2050 360,706,317 13,006,688
2049 356,243,287 12,863,637
2048 351,724,743 12,712,671
2047 347,142,279 12,566,944
2046 342,505,549 12,411,042
2045 337,807,869 12,254,651
2044 333,050,132 12,088,895
2043 328,230,652 11,928,393
2042 323,363,366 11,767,372
2041 318,443,989 11,599,942
2040 313,468,061 11,428,331
2039 308,450,008 11,259,845
2038 303,399,842 11,097,180
2037 298,327,800 10,928,754
2036 293,227,654 10,757,928
2035 288,115,630 10,582,918
2034 282,995,818 10,411,088
2033 277,875,880 10,238,503
2032 272,747,599 10,059,929
2031 267,645,657 9,881,109
2030 262,562,767 9,705,485
2029 257,484,616 9,529,493
2028 252,445,821 9,358,412
2027 247,437,680 9,177,288
2026 242,458,365 8,998,902
2025 237,527,782 8,819,794
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Nigeria was ranked 7th most populous country in 2006 and is 6th 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) Nigeria's population will grow by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people with a rank change from 6th to 5th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th 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 2.08% 2.06%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nigeria grew by 2.08%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Nigeria Sierra Leone
Current population
245016045
9090531
Population rank 6/197 100/197
Percent of world population 2.95% 0.11%
One net population change
6.52 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
4.17 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
11.6 seconds
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +13,283 +487
Annual growth/decline +4,848,304 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.08% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 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 4,851,833 -35,202 189,234 -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 2026-07-08).

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 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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, 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K
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/nigeria/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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