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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,819,794 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,090,531 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 2.27 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 100th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.29% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.09M (61.6% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Somalia
2100 16,107,087 68,341,587
2099 16,121,940 67,997,987
2098 16,135,035 67,660,056
2097 16,149,905 67,320,374
2096 16,160,672 66,931,214
2095 16,169,304 66,544,181
2094 16,168,902 66,138,594
2093 16,173,609 65,719,626
2092 16,170,778 65,283,569
2091 16,163,901 64,812,444
2090 16,154,165 64,322,633
2089 16,142,526 63,882,977
2088 16,128,775 63,424,502
2087 16,112,585 62,947,792
2086 16,085,549 62,408,129
2085 16,064,212 61,835,054
2084 16,040,563 61,280,718
2083 16,006,923 60,723,949
2082 15,970,872 60,150,487
2081 15,930,880 59,639,547
2080 15,892,665 59,064,099
2079 15,850,728 58,441,001
2078 15,801,450 57,816,490
2077 15,750,408 57,176,183
2076 15,695,310 56,567,204
2075 15,635,345 55,970,712
2074 15,580,279 55,295,699
2073 15,512,655 54,617,874
2072 15,442,481 53,944,923
2071 15,370,747 53,250,824
2070 15,293,426 52,540,460
2069 15,212,664 51,845,897
2068 15,124,069 51,165,760
2067 15,028,190 50,461,574
2066 14,931,295 49,748,163
2065 14,833,794 48,994,126
2064 14,736,872 48,235,809
2063 14,638,180 47,492,758
2062 14,525,736 46,756,776
2061 14,420,068 46,008,848
2060 14,307,451 45,192,338
2059 14,194,972 44,370,279
2058 14,077,124 43,631,825
2057 13,957,197 42,870,700
2056 13,832,494 42,095,303
2055 13,702,508 41,292,441
2054 13,576,231 40,487,904
2053 13,440,929 39,720,236
2052 13,299,910 38,967,888
2051 13,152,910 38,205,058
2050 13,006,688 37,448,393
2049 12,863,637 36,717,019
2048 12,712,671 35,962,583
2047 12,566,944 35,196,924
2046 12,411,042 34,440,935
2045 12,254,651 33,696,593
2044 12,088,895 32,957,131
2043 11,928,393 32,227,622
2042 11,767,372 31,517,627
2041 11,599,942 30,775,671
2040 11,428,331 30,013,616
2039 11,259,845 29,294,623
2038 11,097,180 28,565,580
2037 10,928,754 27,821,304
2036 10,757,928 27,097,563
2035 10,582,918 26,368,985
2034 10,411,088 25,671,628
2033 10,238,503 25,002,924
2032 10,059,929 24,323,435
2031 9,881,109 23,642,617
2030 9,705,485 22,951,436
2029 9,529,493 22,285,719
2028 9,358,412 21,638,095
2027 9,177,288 20,978,784
2026 8,998,902 20,310,008
2025 8,819,794 19,654,739
2024 8,642,022 19,009,151
2023 8,460,512 18,358,615
2022 8,276,807 17,801,897
2021 8,094,602 17,271,431
2020 7,912,558 16,651,191
2019 7,731,991 16,030,971
2018 7,554,563 15,452,487
2017 7,379,299 14,916,629
2016 7,205,328 14,348,740
2015 7,037,655 13,806,963
2014 6,876,385 13,339,491
2013 6,714,051 12,869,594
2012 6,551,080 12,461,160
2011 6,387,251 12,348,830
2010 6,222,714 12,261,756
2009 6,055,646 11,961,201
2008 5,894,722 11,663,084
2007 5,749,352 11,322,582
2006 5,624,466 10,975,502
2005 5,501,712 10,644,228
2004 5,355,717 10,280,998
2003 5,177,687 9,909,157
2002 4,971,435 9,550,063
2001 4,692,716 9,198,493
2000 4,423,611 8,838,713
1999 4,318,043 8,492,059
1998 4,295,785 8,155,417
1997 4,253,716 7,824,525
1996 4,199,210 7,554,474
1995 4,179,179 7,285,007
1994 4,173,105 7,026,797
1993 4,157,130 6,681,399
1992 4,166,366 6,495,107
1991 4,246,267 6,813,760
1990 4,196,828 7,082,811
1989 4,034,037 7,114,817
1988 3,934,517 7,235,360
1987 3,829,718 7,228,302
1986 3,728,380 6,974,788
1985 3,638,438 6,693,289
1984 3,558,758 6,428,389
1983 3,481,646 6,198,430
1982 3,408,183 6,003,840
1981 3,338,940 5,982,849
1980 3,272,089 5,936,154
1979 3,207,499 5,449,117
1978 3,145,517 4,814,892
1977 3,085,354 4,484,050
1976 3,028,820 4,365,812
1975 2,974,657 4,257,535
1974 2,920,459 4,151,842
1973 2,866,955 4,045,592
1972 2,814,388 3,939,436
1971 2,763,222 3,837,691
1970 2,712,286 3,738,448
1969 2,661,365 3,641,015
1968 2,611,532 3,546,590
1967 2,562,384 3,454,537
1966 2,514,638 3,365,106
1965 2,468,666 3,277,874
1964 2,424,390 3,192,796
1963 2,382,258 3,110,361
1962 2,342,242 3,030,091
1961 2,304,227 2,952,054
1960 2,268,356 2,876,331

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/sierra-leone/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 100th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sierra Leone's population will grow by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people with a rank change from 100th to 91st. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 68.3M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Somalia
2100 -0.09% 0.51%
2099 -0.08% 0.5%
2098 -0.09% 0.5%
2097 -0.07% 0.58%
2096 -0.05% 0.58%
2095 0.002% 0.61%
2094 -0.03% 0.64%
2093 0.02% 0.67%
2092 0.04% 0.73%
2091 0.06% 0.76%
2090 0.07% 0.69%
2089 0.09% 0.72%
2088 0.1% 0.76%
2087 0.17% 0.86%
2086 0.13% 0.93%
2085 0.15% 0.9%
2084 0.21% 0.92%
2083 0.23% 0.95%
2082 0.25% 0.86%
2081 0.24% 0.97%
2080 0.26% 1.07%
2079 0.31% 1.08%
2078 0.32% 1.12%
2077 0.35% 1.08%
2076 0.38% 1.07%
2075 0.35% 1.22%
2074 0.44% 1.24%
2073 0.45% 1.25%
2072 0.47% 1.3%
2071 0.51% 1.35%
2070 0.53% 1.34%
2069 0.59% 1.33%
2068 0.64% 1.4%
2067 0.65% 1.43%
2066 0.66% 1.54%
2065 0.66% 1.57%
2064 0.67% 1.56%
2063 0.77% 1.57%
2062 0.73% 1.63%
2061 0.79% 1.81%
2060 0.79% 1.85%
2059 0.84% 1.69%
2058 0.86% 1.78%
2057 0.9% 1.84%
2056 0.95% 1.94%
2055 0.93% 1.99%
2054 1.01% 1.93%
2053 1.06% 1.93%
2052 1.12% 2%
2051 1.12% 2.02%
2050 1.11% 1.99%
2049 1.19% 2.1%
2048 1.16% 2.18%
2047 1.26% 2.2%
2046 1.28% 2.21%
2045 1.37% 2.24%
2044 1.35% 2.26%
2043 1.37% 2.25%
2042 1.44% 2.41%
2041 1.5% 2.54%
2040 1.5% 2.45%
2039 1.47% 2.55%
2038 1.54% 2.68%
2037 1.59% 2.67%
2036 1.65% 2.76%
2035 1.65% 2.72%
2034 1.69% 2.67%
2033 1.78% 2.79%
2032 1.81% 2.88%
2031 1.81% 3.01%
2030 1.85% 2.99%
2029 1.83% 2.99%
2028 1.97% 3.14%
2027 1.98% 3.29%
2026 2.03% 3.33%
2025 2.06% 3.4%
2024 2.15% 3.54%
2023 2.22% 3.13%
2022 2.25% 3.07%
2021 2.3% 3.72%
2020 2.34% 3.87%
2019 2.35% 3.74%
2018 2.38% 3.59%
2017 2.41% 3.96%
2016 2.38% 3.92%
2015 2.35% 3.5%
2014 2.42% 3.65%
2013 2.49% 3.28%
2012 2.56% 0.91%
2011 2.64% 0.71%
2010 2.76% 2.51%
2009 2.73% 2.56%
2008 2.53% 3.01%
2007 2.22% 3.16%
2006 2.23% 3.11%
2005 2.73% 3.53%
2004 3.44% 3.75%
2003 4.15% 3.76%
2002 5.94% 3.82%
2001 6.08% 4.07%
2000 2.44% 4.08%
1999 0.52% 4.13%
1998 0.99% 4.23%
1997 1.3% 3.57%
1996 0.48% 3.7%
1995 0.15% 3.67%
1994 0.38% 5.17%
1993 -0.22% 2.87%
1992 -1.88% -4.68%
1991 1.18% -3.8%
1990 4.04% -0.45%
1989 2.53% -1.67%
1988 2.74% 0.1%
1987 2.72% 3.63%
1986 2.47% 4.21%
1985 2.24% 4.12%
1984 2.21% 3.71%
1983 2.16% 3.24%
1982 2.07% 0.35%
1981 2.04% 0.79%
1980 2.01% 8.94%
1979 1.97% 13.2%
1978 1.95% 7.38%
1977 1.87% 2.71%
1976 1.82% 2.54%
1975 1.86% 2.55%
1974 1.87% 2.63%
1973 1.87% 2.69%
1972 1.85% 2.65%
1971 1.88% 2.65%
1970 1.91% 2.68%
1969 1.91% 2.66%
1968 1.92% 2.66%
1967 1.9% 2.66%
1966 1.86% 2.66%
1965 1.83% 2.66%
1964 1.77% 2.65%
1963 1.71% 2.65%
1962 1.65% 2.64%
1961 1.58% 2.63%

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/sierra-leone/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.06%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Somalia
Current population
9090531
20653532
Population rank 100/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.25%
One net population change
2.96 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
2.02 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
7.41 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +487 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +177,772 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +2.06% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 8/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +12,077
Net migration rank 136/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 12,077
2024 189,234 -11,000 619,793 26,859
2023 188,788 -4,000 608,203 46,217
2022 186,625 -4,000 551,450 -92,434
2021 183,326 -1,544 566,399 35,506
2020 181,015 1,292 561,311 77,259
2019 181,068 -2,238 548,756 53,124
2018 178,772 -2,741 514,244 40,844
2017 173,259 1,234 478,556 38,067
2016 168,784 4,657 495,132 124,017
2015 162,275 -356 481,573 -17,178
2014 160,137 485 464,481 6,065
2013 161,265 2,773 448,518 20,723
2012 160,915 988 399,468 -51,833
2011 158,858 6,895 203,213 -326,192
2010 155,338 7,983 385,571 -88,448
2009 152,669 18,145 405,784 -101,795
2008 149,855 1,182 394,258 -102,035
2007 145,740 -6,042 380,303 8,476
2006 144,127 -34,052 372,597 -67,200
2005 137,234 -1,805 363,117 -5,955
2004 132,661 23,897 351,959 17,353
2003 130,312 69,185 341,192 33,174
2002 126,429 86,578 331,215 12,603
2001 116,647 227,791 319,059 40,274
2000 110,754 83,013 306,651 53,580
1999 102,295 -84,926 295,523 37,548
1998 103,906 -76,766 284,779 55,426
1997 105,433 -48,437 271,894 49,692
1996 104,140 -52,110 264,807 -46,291
1995 100,885 -112,857 254,509 65,888
1994 101,486 -77,371 246,950 -50,921
1993 103,317 -95,476 232,960 261,815
1992 103,251 -129,565 57,495 -179,675
1991 105,477 -238,965 53,052 -568,166
1990 100,778 131,587 225,162 -248,155
1989 98,298 -5,079 225,255 -266,281
1988 96,344 9,470 215,599 -415,660
1987 94,235 9,558 231,580 -17,391
1986 90,902 7,992 218,416 74,424
1985 88,869 -7,873 207,960 62,183
1984 87,072 -8,708 199,017 60,630
1983 84,628 -8,783 190,775 9,505
1982 82,457 -11,379 182,793 6,115
1981 80,111 -12,699 185,211 -332,129
1980 77,932 -11,641 174,790 65,519
1979 75,992 -13,095 151,016 582,746
1978 74,130 -13,073 132,689 402,005
1977 71,663 -12,399 124,818 2,170
1976 69,506 -15,686 113,319 -3,831
1975 67,560 -13,058 108,998 -1,934
1974 65,357 -11,473 104,813 -495
1973 62,443 -9,322 108,038 143
1972 60,279 -8,267 104,493 -351
1971 58,484 -8,162 101,196 -1,850
1970 56,513 -4,957 98,025 1,104
1969 54,768 -4,485 95,045 690
1968 53,126 -3,743 92,208 906
1967 51,734 -2,819 89,497 1,498
1966 49,486 -2,911 86,930 941
1965 47,223 -1,851 84,448 2,142
1964 45,487 -2,308 82,042 1,518
1963 43,569 -2,480 79,859 1,449
1962 41,603 -2,658 77,737 1,496
1961 40,022 -2,947 75,513 1,336
1960 38,192 -3,528 73,850 750

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99% of the population change in Sierra Leone is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people). In Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/sierra-leone/somalia | 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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