Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,569,341 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 15,062,056 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 1.66 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • 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 +2.28% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15.1M (62% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Rwanda vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Sierra Leone
2100 33,113,283 16,107,087
2099 33,008,545 16,121,940
2098 32,927,982 16,135,035
2097 32,853,307 16,149,905
2096 32,768,037 16,160,672
2095 32,635,508 16,169,304
2094 32,550,001 16,168,902
2093 32,416,870 16,173,609
2092 32,294,333 16,170,778
2091 32,191,262 16,163,901
2090 32,088,747 16,154,165
2089 31,892,591 16,142,526
2088 31,746,789 16,128,775
2087 31,553,150 16,112,585
2086 31,399,004 16,085,549
2085 31,254,597 16,064,212
2084 31,112,448 16,040,563
2083 30,937,106 16,006,923
2082 30,752,861 15,970,872
2081 30,576,992 15,930,880
2080 30,386,351 15,892,665
2079 30,195,560 15,850,728
2078 30,016,688 15,801,450
2077 29,819,259 15,750,408
2076 29,645,610 15,695,310
2075 29,441,964 15,635,345
2074 29,243,980 15,580,279
2073 29,025,977 15,512,655
2072 28,798,822 15,442,481
2071 28,578,302 15,370,747
2070 28,334,300 15,293,426
2069 28,121,174 15,212,664
2068 27,872,383 15,124,069
2067 27,609,059 15,028,190
2066 27,372,823 14,931,295
2065 27,101,698 14,833,794
2064 26,838,144 14,736,872
2063 26,559,838 14,638,180
2062 26,312,631 14,525,736
2061 26,001,660 14,420,068
2060 25,729,037 14,307,451
2059 25,453,407 14,194,972
2058 25,121,995 14,077,124
2057 24,853,512 13,957,197
2056 24,582,198 13,832,494
2055 24,281,895 13,702,508
2054 23,991,958 13,576,231
2053 23,705,290 13,440,929
2052 23,421,032 13,299,910
2051 23,113,700 13,152,910
2050 22,814,556 13,006,688
2049 22,498,806 12,863,637
2048 22,171,841 12,712,671
2047 21,848,486 12,566,944
2046 21,554,082 12,411,042
2045 21,228,573 12,254,651
2044 20,915,810 12,088,895
2043 20,548,490 11,928,393
2042 20,214,283 11,767,372
2041 19,845,021 11,599,942
2040 19,475,227 11,428,331
2039 19,108,842 11,259,845
2038 18,773,398 11,097,180
2037 18,433,422 10,928,754
2036 18,128,058 10,757,928
2035 17,765,049 10,582,918
2034 17,432,165 10,411,088
2033 17,100,072 10,238,503
2032 16,822,053 10,059,929
2031 16,495,903 9,881,109
2030 16,178,061 9,705,485
2029 15,868,812 9,529,493
2028 15,554,713 9,358,412
2027 15,217,275 9,177,288
2026 14,898,118 8,998,902
2025 14,569,341 8,819,794
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th 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 2.19% 2.06%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.19%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Sierra Leone
Current population
15062056
9090531
Population rank 77/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.11%
One net population change
1.69 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
1.31 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
6.25 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +857 +487
Annual growth/decline +312,774 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.19% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 40/197 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 316,025 -15,582 189,234 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda/sierra-leone | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.