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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 2.27 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st 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 +2.32% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Somalia
2100 16,111,324 68,384,185
2099 16,126,181 68,040,371
2098 16,139,280 67,702,230
2097 16,154,153 67,362,336
2096 16,164,923 66,972,933
2095 16,173,557 66,585,659
2094 16,173,155 66,179,819
2093 16,177,864 65,760,590
2092 16,175,032 65,324,261
2091 16,168,153 64,852,843
2090 16,158,415 64,362,727
2089 16,146,773 63,922,797
2088 16,133,018 63,464,036
2087 16,116,823 62,987,028
2086 16,089,780 62,447,029
2085 16,068,438 61,873,597
2084 16,044,782 61,318,916
2083 16,011,134 60,761,800
2082 15,975,073 60,187,980
2081 15,935,071 59,676,722
2080 15,896,846 59,100,915
2079 15,854,898 58,477,428
2078 15,805,607 57,852,528
2077 15,754,551 57,211,821
2076 15,699,439 56,602,463
2075 15,639,458 56,005,600
2074 15,584,377 55,330,165
2073 15,516,736 54,651,918
2072 15,446,543 53,978,548
2071 15,374,790 53,284,016
2070 15,297,449 52,573,210
2069 15,216,666 51,878,214
2068 15,128,048 51,197,653
2067 15,032,144 50,493,028
2066 14,935,222 49,779,172
2065 14,837,697 49,024,665
2064 14,740,749 48,265,876
2063 14,642,031 47,522,361
2062 14,529,557 46,785,920
2061 14,423,861 46,037,526
2060 14,311,215 45,220,507
2059 14,198,706 44,397,936
2058 14,080,827 43,659,021
2057 13,960,869 42,897,422
2056 13,836,132 42,121,542
2055 13,706,113 41,318,179
2054 13,579,802 40,513,141
2053 13,444,465 39,744,995
2052 13,303,409 38,992,177
2051 13,156,370 38,228,872
2050 13,010,109 37,471,735
2049 12,867,021 36,739,905
2048 12,716,015 35,984,999
2047 12,570,250 35,218,863
2046 12,414,307 34,462,403
2045 12,257,874 33,717,596
2044 12,092,075 32,977,674
2043 11,931,531 32,247,710
2042 11,770,467 31,537,272
2041 11,602,993 30,794,853
2040 11,431,337 30,032,324
2039 11,262,807 29,312,883
2038 11,100,099 28,583,386
2037 10,931,629 27,838,646
2036 10,760,758 27,114,453
2035 10,585,702 26,385,421
2034 10,413,826 25,687,629
2033 10,241,196 25,018,509
2032 10,062,575 24,338,597
2031 9,883,708 23,657,353
2030 9,708,038 22,965,742
2029 9,532,000 22,299,610
2028 9,360,873 21,651,582
2027 9,179,702 20,991,860
2026 9,001,269 20,322,668
2025 8,822,114 19,666,990
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st 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 43.8% to 13,010,109 people with a rank change from 101st to 91st. The population of Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 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 68.4M 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 2.08% 3.46%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Somalia
Current population
9049533
20503678
Population rank 101/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.25%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
2.03 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
7.5 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +3.54%
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 - -11,000 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.6% of the population change in Sierra Leone is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people). In Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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 (1960–2024, 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/sierra-leone/somalia | 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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