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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 1.65 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Rwanda vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Sierra Leone
2100 33,092,520 16,111,324
2099 32,987,847 16,126,181
2098 32,907,335 16,139,280
2097 32,832,706 16,154,153
2096 32,747,490 16,164,923
2095 32,615,044 16,173,557
2094 32,529,590 16,173,155
2093 32,396,544 16,177,864
2092 32,274,083 16,175,032
2091 32,171,077 16,168,153
2090 32,068,626 16,158,415
2089 31,872,593 16,146,773
2088 31,726,882 16,133,018
2087 31,533,364 16,116,823
2086 31,379,315 16,089,780
2085 31,235,000 16,068,438
2084 31,092,940 16,044,782
2083 30,917,707 16,011,134
2082 30,733,578 15,975,073
2081 30,557,819 15,935,071
2080 30,367,298 15,896,846
2079 30,176,627 15,854,898
2078 29,997,866 15,805,607
2077 29,800,561 15,754,551
2076 29,627,021 15,699,439
2075 29,423,503 15,639,458
2074 29,225,643 15,584,377
2073 29,007,777 15,516,736
2072 28,780,763 15,446,543
2071 28,560,382 15,374,790
2070 28,316,533 15,297,449
2069 28,103,541 15,216,666
2068 27,854,906 15,128,048
2067 27,591,747 15,032,144
2066 27,355,659 14,935,222
2065 27,084,704 14,837,697
2064 26,821,315 14,740,749
2063 26,543,184 14,642,031
2062 26,296,132 14,529,557
2061 25,985,356 14,423,861
2060 25,712,904 14,311,215
2059 25,437,446 14,198,706
2058 25,106,242 14,080,827
2057 24,837,928 13,960,869
2056 24,566,784 13,836,132
2055 24,266,669 13,706,113
2054 23,976,914 13,579,802
2053 23,690,426 13,444,465
2052 23,406,346 13,303,409
2051 23,099,207 13,156,370
2050 22,800,250 13,010,109
2049 22,484,698 12,867,021
2048 22,157,938 12,716,015
2047 21,834,786 12,570,250
2046 21,540,566 12,414,307
2045 21,215,262 12,257,874
2044 20,902,695 12,092,075
2043 20,535,605 11,931,531
2042 20,201,608 11,770,467
2041 19,832,577 11,602,993
2040 19,463,015 11,431,337
2039 19,096,860 11,262,807
2038 18,761,626 11,100,099
2037 18,421,864 10,931,629
2036 18,116,691 10,760,758
2035 17,753,910 10,585,702
2034 17,421,234 10,413,826
2033 17,089,349 10,241,196
2032 16,811,505 10,062,575
2031 16,485,559 9,883,708
2030 16,167,916 9,708,038
2029 15,858,862 9,532,000
2028 15,544,959 9,360,873
2027 15,207,733 9,179,702
2026 14,888,776 9,001,269
2025 14,560,205 8,822,114
2024 14,256,567 8,642,022
2023 13,954,471 8,460,512
2022 13,651,030 8,276,807
2021 13,355,260 8,094,602
2020 13,065,837 7,912,558
2019 12,776,103 7,731,991
2018 12,487,996 7,554,563
2017 12,202,060 7,379,299
2016 11,919,183 7,205,328
2015 11,640,022 7,037,655
2014 11,364,757 6,876,385
2013 11,093,340 6,714,051
2012 10,829,901 6,551,080
2011 10,573,733 6,387,251
2010 10,317,553 6,222,714
2009 10,060,432 6,055,646
2008 9,804,269 5,894,722
2007 9,549,933 5,749,352
2006 9,299,246 5,624,466
2005 9,054,528 5,501,712
2004 8,816,844 5,355,717
2003 8,586,875 5,177,687
2002 8,400,180 4,971,435
2001 8,287,094 4,692,716
2000 8,213,931 4,423,611
1999 8,147,912 4,318,043
1998 8,081,681 4,295,785
1997 7,755,238 4,253,716
1996 6,708,764 4,199,210
1995 5,674,118 4,179,179
1994 6,792,352 4,173,105
1993 7,981,132 4,157,130
1992 7,683,266 4,166,366
1991 7,526,966 4,246,267
1990 7,375,307 4,196,828
1989 7,184,706 4,034,037
1988 6,968,071 3,934,517
1987 6,749,493 3,829,718
1986 6,531,881 3,728,380
1985 6,317,228 3,638,438
1984 6,107,627 3,558,758
1983 5,905,311 3,481,646
1982 5,711,549 3,408,183
1981 5,527,230 3,338,940
1980 5,353,259 3,272,089
1979 5,189,541 3,207,499
1978 5,035,171 3,145,517
1977 4,888,240 3,085,354
1976 4,745,954 3,028,820
1975 4,607,728 2,974,657
1974 4,474,228 2,920,459
1973 4,345,047 2,866,955
1972 4,220,335 2,814,388
1971 4,100,044 2,763,222
1970 3,980,669 2,712,286
1969 3,861,271 2,661,365
1968 3,744,010 2,611,532
1967 3,629,577 2,562,384
1966 3,521,626 2,514,638
1965 3,423,210 2,468,666
1964 3,334,834 2,424,390
1963 3,258,890 2,382,258
1962 3,186,025 2,342,242
1961 3,106,779 2,304,227
1960 3,022,294 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/rwanda/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Sierra Leone
2100 0.32% -0.09%
2099 0.24% -0.08%
2098 0.23% -0.09%
2097 0.26% -0.07%
2096 0.41% -0.05%
2095 0.26% 0.002%
2094 0.41% -0.03%
2093 0.38% 0.02%
2092 0.32% 0.04%
2091 0.32% 0.06%
2090 0.62% 0.07%
2089 0.46% 0.09%
2088 0.61% 0.1%
2087 0.49% 0.17%
2086 0.46% 0.13%
2085 0.46% 0.15%
2084 0.57% 0.21%
2083 0.6% 0.23%
2082 0.58% 0.25%
2081 0.63% 0.24%
2080 0.63% 0.26%
2079 0.6% 0.31%
2078 0.66% 0.32%
2077 0.59% 0.35%
2076 0.69% 0.38%
2075 0.68% 0.35%
2074 0.75% 0.44%
2073 0.79% 0.45%
2072 0.77% 0.47%
2071 0.86% 0.51%
2070 0.76% 0.53%
2069 0.89% 0.59%
2068 0.95% 0.64%
2067 0.86% 0.65%
2066 1% 0.66%
2065 0.98% 0.66%
2064 1.05% 0.67%
2063 0.94% 0.77%
2062 1.2% 0.73%
2061 1.06% 0.79%
2060 1.08% 0.79%
2059 1.32% 0.84%
2058 1.08% 0.86%
2057 1.1% 0.9%
2056 1.24% 0.95%
2055 1.21% 0.93%
2054 1.21% 1.01%
2053 1.21% 1.06%
2052 1.33% 1.12%
2051 1.31% 1.12%
2050 1.4% 1.11%
2049 1.47% 1.19%
2048 1.48% 1.16%
2047 1.37% 1.26%
2046 1.53% 1.28%
2045 1.5% 1.37%
2044 1.79% 1.35%
2043 1.65% 1.37%
2042 1.86% 1.44%
2041 1.9% 1.5%
2040 1.92% 1.5%
2039 1.79% 1.47%
2038 1.84% 1.54%
2037 1.68% 1.59%
2036 2.04% 1.65%
2035 1.91% 1.65%
2034 1.94% 1.69%
2033 1.65% 1.78%
2032 1.98% 1.81%
2031 1.96% 1.81%
2030 1.95% 1.85%
2029 2.02% 1.83%
2028 2.22% 1.97%
2027 2.14% 1.98%
2026 2.26% 2.03%
2025 2.13% 2.08%
2024 2.16% 2.15%
2023 2.22% 2.22%
2022 2.21% 2.25%
2021 2.22% 2.3%
2020 2.27% 2.34%
2019 2.31% 2.35%
2018 2.34% 2.38%
2017 2.37% 2.41%
2016 2.4% 2.38%
2015 2.42% 2.35%
2014 2.45% 2.42%
2013 2.43% 2.49%
2012 2.42% 2.56%
2011 2.48% 2.64%
2010 2.56% 2.76%
2009 2.61% 2.73%
2008 2.66% 2.53%
2007 2.7% 2.22%
2006 2.7% 2.23%
2005 2.7% 2.73%
2004 2.68% 3.44%
2003 2.22% 4.15%
2002 1.36% 5.94%
2001 0.89% 6.08%
2000 0.81% 2.44%
1999 0.82% 0.52%
1998 4.21% 0.99%
1997 15.6% 1.3%
1996 18.2% 0.48%
1995 -16.5% 0.15%
1994 -14.9% 0.38%
1993 3.88% -0.22%
1992 2.08% -1.88%
1991 2.06% 1.18%
1990 2.65% 4.04%
1989 3.11% 2.53%
1988 3.24% 2.74%
1987 3.33% 2.72%
1986 3.4% 2.47%
1985 3.43% 2.24%
1984 3.43% 2.21%
1983 3.39% 2.16%
1982 3.33% 2.07%
1981 3.25% 2.04%
1980 3.15% 2.01%
1979 3.07% 1.97%
1978 3.01% 1.95%
1977 3% 1.87%
1976 3% 1.82%
1975 2.98% 1.86%
1974 2.97% 1.87%
1973 2.96% 1.87%
1972 2.93% 1.85%
1971 3% 1.88%
1970 3.09% 1.91%
1969 3.13% 1.91%
1968 3.15% 1.92%
1967 3.07% 1.9%
1966 2.87% 1.86%
1965 2.65% 1.83%
1964 2.33% 1.77%
1963 2.29% 1.71%
1962 2.55% 1.65%
1961 2.8% 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/rwanda/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Sierra Leone
Current population
14975051
9049533
Population rank 77/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.11%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
1.33 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
6.35 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +497
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 -11,309
Net migration rank 48/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - -11,309
2024 - -15,582 - -11,000
2023 312,762 -9,001 188,788 -4,000
2022 312,145 -9,001 186,625 -4,000
2021 309,895 -21,492 183,326 -1,544
2020 312,692 -22,251 181,015 1,292
2019 313,525 -24,492 181,068 -2,238
2018 312,512 -25,323 178,772 -2,741
2017 310,323 -25,634 173,259 1,234
2016 305,549 -24,474 168,784 4,657
2015 299,114 -21,862 162,275 -356
2014 292,779 -19,505 160,137 485
2013 286,331 -16,779 161,265 2,773
2012 282,584 -25,260 160,915 988
2011 282,922 -27,915 158,858 6,895
2010 286,848 -29,501 155,338 7,983
2009 287,034 -30,128 152,669 18,145
2008 287,334 -31,913 149,855 1,182
2007 285,791 -32,537 145,740 -6,042
2006 282,149 -34,008 144,127 -34,052
2005 275,121 -33,830 137,234 -1,805
2004 265,273 -31,214 132,661 23,897
2003 251,243 -25,355 130,312 69,185
2002 239,036 -91,518 126,429 86,578
2001 230,845 -152,197 116,647 227,791
2000 221,276 -153,588 110,754 83,013
1999 210,518 -146,162 102,295 -84,926
1998 197,185 -129,089 103,906 -76,766
1997 174,687 410,106 105,433 -48,437
1996 140,455 1,367,700 104,140 -52,110
1995 121,137 439,995 100,885 -112,857
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 101,486 -77,371
1993 183,926 236,110 103,317 -95,476
1992 188,025 -12,334 103,251 -129,565
1991 196,431 -59,519 105,477 -238,965
1990 207,895 -41,483 100,778 131,587
1989 217,632 -2,826 98,298 -5,079
1988 223,759 -5,285 96,344 9,470
1987 225,744 -7,062 94,235 9,558
1986 225,526 -8,982 90,902 7,992
1985 223,794 -11,031 88,869 -7,873
1984 219,337 -12,899 87,072 -8,708
1983 212,750 -14,560 84,628 -8,783
1982 205,147 -15,818 82,457 -11,379
1981 195,769 -16,453 80,111 -12,699
1980 184,988 -16,359 77,932 -11,641
1979 174,477 -15,669 75,992 -13,095
1978 163,779 -13,838 74,130 -13,073
1977 155,011 -11,084 71,663 -12,399
1976 147,665 -7,027 69,506 -15,686
1975 140,596 -4,791 67,560 -13,058
1974 135,743 -4,535 65,357 -11,473
1973 131,021 -3,862 62,443 -9,322
1972 126,403 -4,156 60,279 -8,267
1971 122,567 -4,230 58,484 -8,162
1970 119,273 1,149 56,513 -4,957
1969 115,394 2,983 54,768 -4,485
1968 111,422 4,728 53,126 -3,743
1967 108,053 4,655 51,734 -2,819
1966 105,128 -1,930 49,486 -2,911
1965 103,422 -9,774 47,223 -1,851
1964 102,562 -19,458 45,487 -2,308
1963 94,296 -25,524 43,569 -2,480
1962 102,548 -25,594 41,603 -2,658
1961 102,051 -20,508 40,022 -2,947
1960 100,627 -13,198 38,192 -3,528

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.8% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
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/rwanda/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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