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Population in Sierra Leone compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 5.71 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Sierra Leone vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone South Korea
2100 16,111,324 22,012,503
2099 16,126,181 22,335,528
2098 16,139,280 22,668,719
2097 16,154,153 23,009,661
2096 16,164,923 23,360,151
2095 16,173,557 23,722,747
2094 16,173,155 24,093,391
2093 16,177,864 24,473,038
2092 16,175,032 24,860,975
2091 16,168,153 25,255,379
2090 16,158,415 25,655,577
2089 16,146,773 26,060,945
2088 16,133,018 26,470,073
2087 16,116,823 26,884,813
2086 16,089,780 27,301,913
2085 16,068,438 27,723,736
2084 16,044,782 28,147,480
2083 16,011,134 28,578,182
2082 15,975,073 29,012,953
2081 15,935,071 29,456,022
2080 15,896,846 29,901,880
2079 15,854,898 30,352,062
2078 15,805,607 30,809,176
2077 15,754,551 31,273,700
2076 15,699,439 31,744,480
2075 15,639,458 32,221,226
2074 15,584,377 32,706,020
2073 15,516,736 33,196,556
2072 15,446,543 33,696,490
2071 15,374,790 34,203,935
2070 15,297,449 34,719,324
2069 15,216,666 35,241,850
2068 15,128,048 35,762,799
2067 15,032,144 36,292,307
2066 14,935,222 36,826,655
2065 14,837,697 37,368,086
2064 14,740,749 37,916,439
2063 14,642,031 38,469,051
2062 14,529,557 39,028,473
2061 14,423,861 39,584,621
2060 14,311,215 40,149,830
2059 14,198,706 40,712,514
2058 14,080,827 41,277,134
2057 13,960,869 41,833,887
2056 13,836,132 42,377,427
2055 13,706,113 42,909,302
2054 13,579,802 43,427,254
2053 13,444,465 43,938,741
2052 13,303,409 44,441,106
2051 13,156,370 44,923,604
2050 13,010,109 45,385,311
2049 12,867,021 45,832,153
2048 12,716,015 46,258,529
2047 12,570,250 46,668,898
2046 12,414,307 47,056,404
2045 12,257,874 47,433,205
2044 12,092,075 47,797,411
2043 11,931,531 48,144,730
2042 11,770,467 48,478,991
2041 11,602,993 48,806,273
2040 11,431,337 49,115,658
2039 11,262,807 49,412,830
2038 11,100,099 49,694,340
2037 10,931,629 49,957,504
2036 10,760,758 50,200,702
2035 10,585,702 50,426,000
2034 10,413,826 50,632,962
2033 10,241,196 50,821,090
2032 10,062,575 50,987,020
2031 9,883,708 51,134,940
2030 9,708,038 51,267,908
2029 9,532,000 51,385,868
2028 9,360,873 51,486,791
2027 9,179,702 51,576,746
2026 9,001,269 51,649,918
2025 8,822,114 51,710,062
2024 8,642,022 51,751,065
2023 8,460,512 51,712,619
2022 8,276,807 51,672,569
2021 8,094,602 51,769,539
2020 7,912,558 51,836,239
2019 7,731,991 51,764,822
2018 7,554,563 51,585,058
2017 7,379,299 51,361,911
2016 7,205,328 51,217,803
2015 7,037,655 51,014,947
2014 6,876,385 50,746,659
2013 6,714,051 50,428,893
2012 6,551,080 50,199,853
2011 6,387,251 49,936,638
2010 6,222,714 49,554,112
2009 6,055,646 49,307,835
2008 5,894,722 49,054,708
2007 5,749,352 48,683,638
2006 5,624,466 48,438,292
2005 5,501,712 48,184,561
2004 5,355,717 48,082,519
2003 5,177,687 47,892,330
2002 4,971,435 47,644,736
2001 4,692,716 47,370,164
2000 4,423,611 47,008,111
1999 4,318,043 46,616,677
1998 4,295,785 46,286,503
1997 4,253,716 45,953,580
1996 4,199,210 45,524,681
1995 4,179,179 45,092,991
1994 4,173,105 44,641,540
1993 4,157,130 44,194,628
1992 4,166,366 43,747,962
1991 4,246,267 43,295,704
1990 4,196,828 42,869,283
1989 4,034,037 42,449,038
1988 3,934,517 42,031,247
1987 3,829,718 41,621,690
1986 3,728,380 41,213,674
1985 3,638,438 40,805,744
1984 3,558,758 40,405,956
1983 3,481,646 39,910,403
1982 3,408,183 39,326,352
1981 3,338,940 38,723,248
1980 3,272,089 38,123,775
1979 3,207,499 37,534,236
1978 3,145,517 36,969,185
1977 3,085,354 36,411,795
1976 3,028,820 35,848,523
1975 2,974,657 35,280,725
1974 2,920,459 34,692,266
1973 2,866,955 34,103,149
1972 2,814,388 33,505,406
1971 2,763,222 32,882,704
1970 2,712,286 32,240,827
1969 2,661,365 31,544,266
1968 2,611,532 30,838,302
1967 2,562,384 30,130,983
1966 2,514,638 29,435,571
1965 2,468,666 28,704,674
1964 2,424,390 27,984,155
1963 2,382,258 27,261,747
1962 2,342,242 26,513,030
1961 2,304,227 25,765,673
1960 2,268,356 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone South Korea
2100 -0.09% -1.45%
2099 -0.08% -1.47%
2098 -0.09% -1.48%
2097 -0.07% -1.5%
2096 -0.05% -1.53%
2095 0.002% -1.54%
2094 -0.03% -1.55%
2093 0.02% -1.56%
2092 0.04% -1.56%
2091 0.06% -1.56%
2090 0.07% -1.56%
2089 0.09% -1.55%
2088 0.1% -1.54%
2087 0.17% -1.53%
2086 0.13% -1.52%
2085 0.15% -1.51%
2084 0.21% -1.51%
2083 0.23% -1.5%
2082 0.25% -1.5%
2081 0.24% -1.49%
2080 0.26% -1.48%
2079 0.31% -1.48%
2078 0.32% -1.49%
2077 0.35% -1.48%
2076 0.38% -1.48%
2075 0.35% -1.48%
2074 0.44% -1.48%
2073 0.45% -1.48%
2072 0.47% -1.48%
2071 0.51% -1.48%
2070 0.53% -1.48%
2069 0.59% -1.46%
2068 0.64% -1.46%
2067 0.65% -1.45%
2066 0.66% -1.45%
2065 0.66% -1.45%
2064 0.67% -1.44%
2063 0.77% -1.43%
2062 0.73% -1.4%
2061 0.79% -1.41%
2060 0.79% -1.38%
2059 0.84% -1.37%
2058 0.86% -1.33%
2057 0.9% -1.28%
2056 0.95% -1.24%
2055 0.93% -1.19%
2054 1.01% -1.16%
2053 1.06% -1.13%
2052 1.12% -1.07%
2051 1.12% -1.02%
2050 1.11% -0.97%
2049 1.19% -0.92%
2048 1.16% -0.88%
2047 1.26% -0.82%
2046 1.28% -0.79%
2045 1.37% -0.76%
2044 1.35% -0.72%
2043 1.37% -0.69%
2042 1.44% -0.67%
2041 1.5% -0.63%
2040 1.5% -0.6%
2039 1.47% -0.57%
2038 1.54% -0.53%
2037 1.59% -0.48%
2036 1.65% -0.45%
2035 1.65% -0.41%
2034 1.69% -0.37%
2033 1.78% -0.33%
2032 1.81% -0.29%
2031 1.81% -0.26%
2030 1.85% -0.23%
2029 1.83% -0.2%
2028 1.97% -0.17%
2027 1.98% -0.14%
2026 2.03% -0.12%
2025 2.08% -0.08%
2024 2.15% 0.07%
2023 2.22% 0.08%
2022 2.25% -0.19%
2021 2.3% -0.13%
2020 2.34% 0.14%
2019 2.35% 0.35%
2018 2.38% 0.43%
2017 2.41% 0.28%
2016 2.38% 0.4%
2015 2.35% 0.53%
2014 2.42% 0.63%
2013 2.49% 0.46%
2012 2.56% 0.53%
2011 2.64% 0.77%
2010 2.76% 0.5%
2009 2.73% 0.52%
2008 2.53% 0.76%
2007 2.22% 0.51%
2006 2.23% 0.53%
2005 2.73% 0.21%
2004 3.44% 0.4%
2003 4.15% 0.52%
2002 5.94% 0.58%
2001 6.08% 0.77%
2000 2.44% 0.84%
1999 0.52% 0.71%
1998 0.99% 0.72%
1997 1.3% 0.94%
1996 0.48% 0.96%
1995 0.15% 1.01%
1994 0.38% 1.01%
1993 -0.22% 1.02%
1992 -1.88% 1.04%
1991 1.18% 0.99%
1990 4.04% 0.99%
1989 2.53% 0.99%
1988 2.74% 0.98%
1987 2.72% 0.99%
1986 2.47% 1%
1985 2.24% 0.99%
1984 2.21% 1.24%
1983 2.16% 1.49%
1982 2.07% 1.56%
1981 2.04% 1.57%
1980 2.01% 1.57%
1979 1.97% 1.53%
1978 1.95% 1.53%
1977 1.87% 1.57%
1976 1.82% 1.61%
1975 1.86% 1.7%
1974 1.87% 1.73%
1973 1.87% 1.78%
1972 1.85% 1.89%
1971 1.88% 1.99%
1970 1.91% 2.21%
1969 1.91% 2.29%
1968 1.92% 2.35%
1967 1.9% 2.36%
1966 1.86% 2.55%
1965 1.83% 2.57%
1964 1.77% 2.65%
1963 1.71% 2.82%
1962 1.65% 2.9%
1961 1.58% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone South Korea
Current population
9049533
51649918
Population rank 101/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.62%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
2.03 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
7.5 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +105
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 160/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +65,731
Net migration rank 136/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 65,731
2024 - -11,000 - 75,963
2023 188,788 -4,000 -77,569 87,800
2022 186,625 -4,000 -124,014 87,800
2021 183,326 -1,544 -56,947 -16,778
2020 181,015 1,292 -31,101 112,631
2019 181,068 -2,238 10,353 128,622
2018 178,772 -2,741 30,951 118,220
2017 173,259 1,234 71,907 104,029
2016 168,784 4,657 122,923 91,568
2015 162,275 -356 163,248 276,427
2014 160,137 485 167,464 308,037
2013 161,265 2,773 166,415 301,926
2012 160,915 988 215,859 281,866
2011 158,858 6,895 214,728 269,958
2010 155,338 7,983 213,083 52,042
2009 152,669 18,145 197,231 5,308
2008 149,855 1,182 215,841 -19,630
2007 145,740 -6,042 248,286 -42,293
2006 144,127 -34,052 203,441 -28,434
2005 137,234 -1,805 187,920 -47,821
2004 132,661 23,897 225,988 -42,549
2003 130,312 69,185 244,251 -31,994
2002 126,429 86,578 247,752 -18,105
2001 116,647 227,791 312,643 -28,006
2000 110,754 83,013 390,167 -84,960
1999 102,295 -84,926 368,272 -107,448
1998 103,906 -76,766 393,436 -98,044
1997 105,433 -48,437 422,773 -109,130
1996 104,140 -52,110 446,142 -115,705
1995 100,885 -112,857 468,967 -208,491
1994 101,486 -77,371 473,200 -208,309
1993 103,317 -95,476 477,302 -222,802
1992 103,251 -129,565 494,352 -265,849
1991 105,477 -238,965 467,594 -270,754
1990 100,778 131,587 411,546 79,294
1989 98,298 -5,079 403,266 186,120
1988 96,344 9,470 399,297 192,534
1987 94,235 9,558 378,758 198,057
1986 90,902 7,992 395,651 189,782
1985 88,869 -7,873 416,219 97,949
1984 87,072 -8,708 436,384 101,394
1983 84,628 -8,783 514,844 102,167
1982 82,457 -11,379 605,626 48,638
1981 80,111 -12,699 631,189 18,442
1980 77,932 -11,641 583,294 -148,341
1979 75,992 -13,095 623,068 -139,566
1978 74,130 -13,073 499,084 -85,721
1977 71,663 -12,399 578,947 -90,737
1976 69,506 -15,686 530,558 -92,314
1975 67,560 -13,058 603,300 -52,332
1974 65,357 -11,473 673,030 27,005
1973 62,443 -9,322 699,115 35,779
1972 60,279 -8,267 740,469 25,382
1971 58,484 -8,162 789,185 -6,326
1970 56,513 -4,957 747,987 -27,999
1969 54,768 -4,485 694,227 -21,175
1968 53,126 -3,743 684,487 -16,868
1967 51,734 -2,819 692,169 -16,484
1966 49,486 -2,911 623,534 -16,688
1965 47,223 -1,851 641,090 -146,386
1964 45,487 -2,308 655,501 -102,284
1963 43,569 -2,480 685,824 -80,226
1962 41,603 -2,658 712,590 -94,606
1961 40,022 -2,947 730,173 -93,179
1960 38,192 -3,528 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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