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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 1.38 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Sierra Leone vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone South Sudan
2100 16,111,324 24,086,901
2099 16,126,181 24,081,477
2098 16,139,280 24,063,461
2097 16,154,153 24,065,268
2096 16,164,923 24,054,483
2095 16,173,557 24,046,345
2094 16,173,155 24,047,776
2093 16,177,864 24,039,017
2092 16,175,032 24,019,054
2091 16,168,153 24,000,308
2090 16,158,415 23,978,496
2089 16,146,773 23,937,487
2088 16,133,018 23,892,166
2087 16,116,823 23,857,250
2086 16,089,780 23,803,312
2085 16,068,438 23,759,178
2084 16,044,782 23,687,109
2083 16,011,134 23,617,646
2082 15,975,073 23,541,119
2081 15,935,071 23,466,449
2080 15,896,846 23,391,758
2079 15,854,898 23,294,252
2078 15,805,607 23,197,067
2077 15,754,551 23,086,584
2076 15,699,439 22,987,331
2075 15,639,458 22,868,587
2074 15,584,377 22,726,189
2073 15,516,736 22,583,672
2072 15,446,543 22,438,943
2071 15,374,790 22,288,026
2070 15,297,449 22,151,650
2069 15,216,666 22,003,659
2068 15,128,048 21,829,800
2067 15,032,144 21,662,211
2066 14,935,222 21,496,881
2065 14,837,697 21,317,455
2064 14,740,749 21,142,002
2063 14,642,031 20,965,122
2062 14,529,557 20,785,055
2061 14,423,861 20,608,964
2060 14,311,215 20,430,857
2059 14,198,706 20,235,022
2058 14,080,827 20,048,974
2057 13,960,869 19,853,696
2056 13,836,132 19,659,362
2055 13,706,113 19,464,297
2054 13,579,802 19,257,481
2053 13,444,465 19,060,517
2052 13,303,409 18,840,461
2051 13,156,370 18,633,198
2050 13,010,109 18,434,212
2049 12,867,021 18,230,881
2048 12,716,015 18,021,026
2047 12,570,250 17,806,282
2046 12,414,307 17,579,173
2045 12,257,874 17,355,041
2044 12,092,075 17,121,972
2043 11,931,531 16,888,278
2042 11,770,467 16,645,354
2041 11,602,993 16,396,768
2040 11,431,337 16,142,816
2039 11,262,807 15,889,952
2038 11,100,099 15,628,043
2037 10,931,629 15,363,975
2036 10,760,758 15,091,275
2035 10,585,702 14,815,307
2034 10,413,826 14,543,511
2033 10,241,196 14,278,180
2032 10,062,575 14,007,134
2031 9,883,708 13,730,637
2030 9,708,038 13,465,615
2029 9,532,000 13,206,477
2028 9,360,873 12,947,082
2027 9,179,702 12,692,769
2026 9,001,269 12,439,296
2025 8,822,114 12,193,102
2024 8,642,022 11,943,408
2023 8,460,512 11,483,374
2022 8,276,807 11,021,177
2021 8,094,602 10,865,780
2020 7,912,558 10,698,467
2019 7,731,991 10,423,384
2018 7,554,563 10,122,977
2017 7,379,299 10,259,154
2016 7,205,328 10,830,102
2015 7,037,655 11,107,561
2014 6,876,385 11,235,073
2013 6,714,051 11,166,275
2012 6,551,080 10,756,240
2011 6,387,251 10,288,109
2010 6,222,714 9,745,953
2009 6,055,646 9,243,556
2008 5,894,722 8,817,647
2007 5,749,352 8,388,788
2006 5,624,466 7,976,526
2005 5,501,712 7,590,143
2004 5,355,717 7,233,041
2003 5,177,687 6,903,127
2002 4,971,435 6,596,806
2001 4,692,716 6,308,391
2000 4,423,611 6,032,267
1999 4,318,043 5,771,628
1998 4,295,785 5,620,068
1997 4,253,716 5,509,136
1996 4,199,210 5,356,925
1995 4,179,179 5,225,836
1994 4,173,105 5,071,184
1993 4,157,130 4,956,002
1992 4,166,366 4,909,749
1991 4,246,267 4,836,677
1990 4,196,828 4,737,633
1989 4,034,037 4,713,229
1988 3,934,517 4,848,029
1987 3,829,718 4,962,395
1986 3,728,380 4,921,240
1985 3,638,438 4,834,296
1984 3,558,758 4,750,627
1983 3,481,646 4,661,574
1982 3,408,183 4,557,686
1981 3,338,940 4,447,272
1980 3,272,089 4,339,030
1979 3,207,499 4,232,605
1978 3,145,517 4,127,657
1977 3,085,354 4,024,032
1976 3,028,820 3,921,910
1975 2,974,657 3,821,494
1974 2,920,459 3,723,259
1973 2,866,955 3,627,383
1972 2,814,388 3,542,497
1971 2,763,222 3,468,646
1970 2,712,286 3,409,614
1969 2,661,365 3,365,533
1968 2,611,532 3,321,528
1967 2,562,384 3,277,648
1966 2,514,638 3,236,423
1965 2,468,666 3,189,835
1964 2,424,390 3,129,918
1963 2,382,258 3,072,669
1962 2,342,242 3,024,308
1961 2,304,227 2,976,724
1960 2,268,356 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone South Sudan
2100 -0.09% 0.02%
2099 -0.08% 0.07%
2098 -0.09% -0.008%
2097 -0.07% 0.04%
2096 -0.05% 0.03%
2095 0.002% -0.006%
2094 -0.03% 0.04%
2093 0.02% 0.08%
2092 0.04% 0.08%
2091 0.06% 0.09%
2090 0.07% 0.17%
2089 0.09% 0.19%
2088 0.1% 0.15%
2087 0.17% 0.23%
2086 0.13% 0.19%
2085 0.15% 0.3%
2084 0.21% 0.29%
2083 0.23% 0.33%
2082 0.25% 0.32%
2081 0.24% 0.32%
2080 0.26% 0.42%
2079 0.31% 0.42%
2078 0.32% 0.48%
2077 0.35% 0.43%
2076 0.38% 0.52%
2075 0.35% 0.63%
2074 0.44% 0.63%
2073 0.45% 0.64%
2072 0.47% 0.68%
2071 0.51% 0.62%
2070 0.53% 0.67%
2069 0.59% 0.8%
2068 0.64% 0.77%
2067 0.65% 0.77%
2066 0.66% 0.84%
2065 0.66% 0.83%
2064 0.67% 0.84%
2063 0.77% 0.87%
2062 0.73% 0.85%
2061 0.79% 0.87%
2060 0.79% 0.97%
2059 0.84% 0.93%
2058 0.86% 0.98%
2057 0.9% 0.99%
2056 0.95% 1%
2055 0.93% 1.07%
2054 1.01% 1.03%
2053 1.06% 1.17%
2052 1.12% 1.11%
2051 1.12% 1.08%
2050 1.11% 1.12%
2049 1.19% 1.16%
2048 1.16% 1.21%
2047 1.26% 1.29%
2046 1.28% 1.29%
2045 1.37% 1.36%
2044 1.35% 1.38%
2043 1.37% 1.46%
2042 1.44% 1.52%
2041 1.5% 1.57%
2040 1.5% 1.59%
2039 1.47% 1.68%
2038 1.54% 1.72%
2037 1.59% 1.81%
2036 1.65% 1.86%
2035 1.65% 1.87%
2034 1.69% 1.86%
2033 1.78% 1.94%
2032 1.81% 2.01%
2031 1.81% 1.97%
2030 1.85% 1.96%
2029 1.83% 2%
2028 1.97% 2%
2027 1.98% 2.04%
2026 2.03% 2.02%
2025 2.08% 2.09%
2024 2.15% 4.01%
2023 2.22% 4.19%
2022 2.25% 1.43%
2021 2.3% 1.56%
2020 2.34% 2.64%
2019 2.35% 2.97%
2018 2.38% -1.33%
2017 2.41% -5.27%
2016 2.38% -2.5%
2015 2.35% -1.13%
2014 2.42% 0.62%
2013 2.49% 3.81%
2012 2.56% 4.55%
2011 2.64% 5.56%
2010 2.76% 5.44%
2009 2.73% 4.83%
2008 2.53% 5.11%
2007 2.22% 5.17%
2006 2.23% 5.09%
2005 2.73% 4.94%
2004 3.44% 4.78%
2003 4.15% 4.64%
2002 5.94% 4.57%
2001 6.08% 4.58%
2000 2.44% 4.52%
1999 0.52% 2.7%
1998 0.99% 2.01%
1997 1.3% 2.84%
1996 0.48% 2.51%
1995 0.15% 3.05%
1994 0.38% 2.32%
1993 -0.22% 0.94%
1992 -1.88% 1.51%
1991 1.18% 2.09%
1990 4.04% 0.52%
1989 2.53% -2.78%
1988 2.74% -2.3%
1987 2.72% 0.84%
1986 2.47% 1.8%
1985 2.24% 1.76%
1984 2.21% 1.91%
1983 2.16% 2.28%
1982 2.07% 2.48%
1981 2.04% 2.49%
1980 2.01% 2.51%
1979 1.97% 2.54%
1978 1.95% 2.58%
1977 1.87% 2.6%
1976 1.82% 2.63%
1975 1.86% 2.64%
1974 1.87% 2.64%
1973 1.87% 2.4%
1972 1.85% 2.13%
1971 1.88% 1.73%
1970 1.91% 1.31%
1969 1.91% 1.32%
1968 1.92% 1.34%
1967 1.9% 1.27%
1966 1.86% 1.46%
1965 1.83% 1.91%
1964 1.77% 1.86%
1963 1.71% 1.6%
1962 1.65% 1.6%
1961 1.58% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone South Sudan
Current population
9049533
12507858
Population rank 101/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.15%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
2.03 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
7.5 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 7/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -11,309 +6,145
Net migration rank 136/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 6,145
2024 - -11,000 - 15,374
2023 188,788 -4,000 217,966 455,000
2022 186,625 -4,000 211,166 40,259
2021 183,326 -1,544 213,567 -154,359
2020 181,015 1,292 212,332 62,935
2019 181,068 -2,238 209,708 65,198
2018 178,772 -2,741 168,497 157,408
2017 173,259 1,234 72,193 -670,477
2016 168,784 4,657 110,553 -654,225
2015 162,275 -356 148,542 -159,822
2014 160,137 485 227,611 -471,523
2013 161,265 2,773 315,983 65,337
2012 160,915 988 312,974 125,771
2011 158,858 6,895 303,181 194,325
2010 155,338 7,983 287,409 299,402
2009 152,669 18,145 278,859 139,129
2008 149,855 1,182 268,268 165,557
2007 145,740 -6,042 256,546 167,350
2006 144,127 -34,052 246,706 153,926
2005 137,234 -1,805 239,272 132,869
2004 132,661 23,897 231,877 110,182
2003 130,312 69,185 225,822 91,951
2002 126,429 86,578 212,014 82,847
2001 116,647 227,791 204,108 77,856
2000 110,754 83,013 196,055 74,227
1999 102,295 -84,926 180,721 70,271
1998 103,906 -76,766 -12,157 64,285
1997 105,433 -48,437 121,454 48,280
1996 104,140 -52,110 116,728 17,953
1995 100,885 -112,857 110,417 17,077
1994 101,486 -77,371 165,407 16,407
1993 103,317 -95,476 32,779 15,772
1992 103,251 -129,565 28,874 15,077
1991 105,477 -238,965 87,873 14,327
1990 100,778 131,587 82,900 12,988
1989 98,298 -5,079 83,735 -130,821
1988 96,344 9,470 -125,447 -97,065
1987 94,235 9,558 5,756 -11,976
1986 90,902 7,992 99,502 -10,973
1985 88,869 -7,873 95,342 -9,986
1984 87,072 -8,708 90,970 -8,984
1983 84,628 -8,783 104,107 -7,986
1982 82,457 -11,379 118,641 -6,983
1981 80,111 -12,699 115,163 -5,994
1980 77,932 -11,641 112,307 -4,997
1979 75,992 -13,095 109,540 -3,997
1978 74,130 -13,073 107,352 -2,998
1977 71,663 -12,399 104,886 -1,997
1976 69,506 -15,686 102,346 -995
1975 67,560 -13,058 99,882 -395
1974 65,357 -11,473 97,181 -192
1973 62,443 -9,322 94,765 0
1972 60,279 -8,267 74,803 193
1971 58,484 -8,162 72,308 394
1970 56,513 -4,957 44,776 587
1969 54,768 -4,485 42,015 786
1968 53,126 -3,743 44,213 995
1967 51,734 -2,819 41,357 1,194
1966 49,486 -2,911 38,523 1,386
1965 47,223 -1,851 51,682 1,591
1964 45,487 -2,308 64,786 1,785
1963 43,569 -2,480 46,333 1,591
1962 41,603 -2,658 47,406 1,386
1961 40,022 -2,947 45,186 1,194
1960 38,192 -3,528 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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