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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 5.39 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Spain
2100 16,111,324 33,862,981
2099 16,126,181 34,039,965
2098 16,139,280 34,215,187
2097 16,154,153 34,387,116
2096 16,164,923 34,552,002
2095 16,173,557 34,719,411
2094 16,173,155 34,882,039
2093 16,177,864 35,044,043
2092 16,175,032 35,204,657
2091 16,168,153 35,366,895
2090 16,158,415 35,535,838
2089 16,146,773 35,707,942
2088 16,133,018 35,877,681
2087 16,116,823 36,043,209
2086 16,089,780 36,210,710
2085 16,068,438 36,386,207
2084 16,044,782 36,564,622
2083 16,011,134 36,749,680
2082 15,975,073 36,936,644
2081 15,935,071 37,133,976
2080 15,896,846 37,337,517
2079 15,854,898 37,551,557
2078 15,805,607 37,771,135
2077 15,754,551 38,002,963
2076 15,699,439 38,249,247
2075 15,639,458 38,506,040
2074 15,584,377 38,777,715
2073 15,516,736 39,056,249
2072 15,446,543 39,348,447
2071 15,374,790 39,642,346
2070 15,297,449 39,949,413
2069 15,216,666 40,256,590
2068 15,128,048 40,575,543
2067 15,032,144 40,893,798
2066 14,935,222 41,218,263
2065 14,837,697 41,543,254
2064 14,740,749 41,878,338
2063 14,642,031 42,208,320
2062 14,529,557 42,542,893
2061 14,423,861 42,874,096
2060 14,311,215 43,191,452
2059 14,198,706 43,506,737
2058 14,080,827 43,809,907
2057 13,960,869 44,112,668
2056 13,836,132 44,415,689
2055 13,706,113 44,691,749
2054 13,579,802 44,958,971
2053 13,444,465 45,223,225
2052 13,303,409 45,470,541
2051 13,156,370 45,695,307
2050 13,010,109 45,911,520
2049 12,867,021 46,127,777
2048 12,716,015 46,322,244
2047 12,570,250 46,510,152
2046 12,414,307 46,687,914
2045 12,257,874 46,858,778
2044 12,092,075 47,016,278
2043 11,931,531 47,158,325
2042 11,770,467 47,301,091
2041 11,602,993 47,434,593
2040 11,431,337 47,563,236
2039 11,262,807 47,685,343
2038 11,100,099 47,798,797
2037 10,931,629 47,910,899
2036 10,760,758 48,020,350
2035 10,585,702 48,124,430
2034 10,413,826 48,220,051
2033 10,241,196 48,311,842
2032 10,062,575 48,402,470
2031 9,883,708 48,495,278
2030 9,708,038 48,579,920
2029 9,532,000 48,648,699
2028 9,360,873 48,707,969
2027 9,179,702 48,758,200
2026 9,001,269 48,806,901
2025 8,822,114 48,838,057
2024 8,642,022 48,848,840
2023 8,460,512 48,352,528
2022 8,276,807 47,786,102
2021 8,094,602 47,443,821
2020 7,912,558 47,359,424
2019 7,731,991 47,118,501
2018 7,554,563 46,782,011
2017 7,379,299 46,571,232
2016 7,205,328 46,458,139
2015 7,037,655 46,422,303
2014 6,876,385 46,460,733
2013 6,714,051 46,604,197
2012 6,551,080 46,773,055
2011 6,387,251 46,742,697
2010 6,222,714 46,576,897
2009 6,055,646 46,362,946
2008 5,894,722 45,954,106
2007 5,749,352 45,226,803
2006 5,624,466 44,397,319
2005 5,501,712 43,653,155
2004 5,355,717 42,921,895
2003 5,177,687 42,187,645
2002 4,971,435 41,431,558
2001 4,692,716 40,850,412
2000 4,423,611 40,567,864
1999 4,318,043 40,386,875
1998 4,295,785 40,223,509
1997 4,253,716 40,057,389
1996 4,199,210 39,889,852
1995 4,179,179 39,724,050
1994 4,173,105 39,549,108
1993 4,157,130 39,361,262
1992 4,166,366 39,157,685
1991 4,246,267 38,966,376
1990 4,196,828 38,867,322
1989 4,034,037 38,827,764
1988 3,934,517 38,766,939
1987 3,829,718 38,684,815
1986 3,728,380 38,584,624
1985 3,638,438 38,469,512
1984 3,558,758 38,330,364
1983 3,481,646 38,171,525
1982 3,408,183 37,986,012
1981 3,338,940 37,758,631
1980 3,272,089 37,491,165
1979 3,207,499 37,191,330
1978 3,145,517 36,864,898
1977 3,085,354 36,511,638
1976 3,028,820 36,137,812
1975 2,974,657 35,757,900
1974 2,920,459 35,373,335
1973 2,866,955 34,988,947
1972 2,814,388 34,604,469
1971 2,763,222 34,224,490
1970 2,712,286 33,814,531
1969 2,661,365 33,441,054
1968 2,611,532 33,113,134
1967 2,562,384 32,682,947
1966 2,514,638 32,283,194
1965 2,468,666 31,954,292
1964 2,424,390 31,609,195
1963 2,382,258 31,296,651
1962 2,342,242 31,023,366
1961 2,304,227 30,739,250
1960 2,268,356 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Spain
2100 -0.09% -0.52%
2099 -0.08% -0.51%
2098 -0.09% -0.5%
2097 -0.07% -0.48%
2096 -0.05% -0.48%
2095 0.002% -0.47%
2094 -0.03% -0.46%
2093 0.02% -0.46%
2092 0.04% -0.46%
2091 0.06% -0.48%
2090 0.07% -0.48%
2089 0.09% -0.47%
2088 0.1% -0.46%
2087 0.17% -0.46%
2086 0.13% -0.48%
2085 0.15% -0.49%
2084 0.21% -0.5%
2083 0.23% -0.51%
2082 0.25% -0.53%
2081 0.24% -0.55%
2080 0.26% -0.57%
2079 0.31% -0.58%
2078 0.32% -0.61%
2077 0.35% -0.64%
2076 0.38% -0.67%
2075 0.35% -0.7%
2074 0.44% -0.71%
2073 0.45% -0.74%
2072 0.47% -0.74%
2071 0.51% -0.77%
2070 0.53% -0.76%
2069 0.59% -0.79%
2068 0.64% -0.78%
2067 0.65% -0.79%
2066 0.66% -0.78%
2065 0.66% -0.8%
2064 0.67% -0.78%
2063 0.77% -0.79%
2062 0.73% -0.77%
2061 0.79% -0.73%
2060 0.79% -0.72%
2059 0.84% -0.69%
2058 0.86% -0.69%
2057 0.9% -0.68%
2056 0.95% -0.62%
2055 0.93% -0.59%
2054 1.01% -0.58%
2053 1.06% -0.54%
2052 1.12% -0.49%
2051 1.12% -0.47%
2050 1.11% -0.47%
2049 1.19% -0.42%
2048 1.16% -0.4%
2047 1.26% -0.38%
2046 1.28% -0.36%
2045 1.37% -0.33%
2044 1.35% -0.3%
2043 1.37% -0.3%
2042 1.44% -0.28%
2041 1.5% -0.27%
2040 1.5% -0.26%
2039 1.47% -0.24%
2038 1.54% -0.23%
2037 1.59% -0.23%
2036 1.65% -0.22%
2035 1.65% -0.2%
2034 1.69% -0.19%
2033 1.78% -0.19%
2032 1.81% -0.19%
2031 1.81% -0.17%
2030 1.85% -0.14%
2029 1.83% -0.12%
2028 1.97% -0.1%
2027 1.98% -0.1%
2026 2.03% -0.06%
2025 2.08% -0.02%
2024 2.15% 1.03%
2023 2.22% 1.19%
2022 2.25% 0.72%
2021 2.3% 0.18%
2020 2.34% 0.51%
2019 2.35% 0.72%
2018 2.38% 0.45%
2017 2.41% 0.24%
2016 2.38% 0.08%
2015 2.35% -0.08%
2014 2.42% -0.31%
2013 2.49% -0.36%
2012 2.56% 0.06%
2011 2.64% 0.36%
2010 2.76% 0.46%
2009 2.73% 0.89%
2008 2.53% 1.61%
2007 2.22% 1.87%
2006 2.23% 1.7%
2005 2.73% 1.7%
2004 3.44% 1.74%
2003 4.15% 1.82%
2002 5.94% 1.42%
2001 6.08% 0.7%
2000 2.44% 0.45%
1999 0.52% 0.41%
1998 0.99% 0.41%
1997 1.3% 0.42%
1996 0.48% 0.42%
1995 0.15% 0.44%
1994 0.38% 0.48%
1993 -0.22% 0.52%
1992 -1.88% 0.49%
1991 1.18% 0.25%
1990 4.04% 0.1%
1989 2.53% 0.16%
1988 2.74% 0.21%
1987 2.72% 0.26%
1986 2.47% 0.3%
1985 2.24% 0.36%
1984 2.21% 0.42%
1983 2.16% 0.49%
1982 2.07% 0.6%
1981 2.04% 0.71%
1980 2.01% 0.81%
1979 1.97% 0.89%
1978 1.95% 0.97%
1977 1.87% 1.03%
1976 1.82% 1.06%
1975 1.86% 1.09%
1974 1.87% 1.1%
1973 1.87% 1.11%
1972 1.85% 1.11%
1971 1.88% 1.21%
1970 1.91% 1.12%
1969 1.91% 0.99%
1968 1.92% 1.32%
1967 1.9% 1.24%
1966 1.86% 1.03%
1965 1.83% 1.09%
1964 1.77% 1%
1963 1.71% 0.88%
1962 1.65% 0.92%
1961 1.58% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Spain
Current population
9049533
48806901
Population rank 101/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.59%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
2.03 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
7.5 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 100/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +96,630
Net migration rank 136/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 96,630
2024 - -11,000 - 111,674
2023 188,788 -4,000 -111,211 119,099
2022 186,625 -4,000 -133,801 299,779
2021 183,326 -1,544 -113,865 144,385
2020 181,015 1,292 -151,551 236,854
2019 181,068 -2,238 -56,542 464,783
2018 178,772 -2,741 -56,139 337,467
2017 173,259 1,234 -32,600 201,135
2016 168,784 4,657 0 106,474
2015 162,275 -356 -4,642 -1,979
2014 160,137 485 32,522 -97,870
2013 161,265 2,773 37,284 -250,741
2012 160,915 988 51,450 -153,486
2011 158,858 6,895 84,137 60,761
2010 155,338 7,983 102,469 69,406
2009 152,669 18,145 106,635 129,557
2008 149,855 1,182 133,267 434,135
2007 145,740 -6,042 108,545 772,317
2006 144,127 -34,052 110,994 659,720
2005 137,234 -1,805 78,576 629,803
2004 132,661 23,897 85,844 661,158
2003 130,312 69,185 54,844 658,428
2002 126,429 86,578 53,861 737,880
2001 116,647 227,791 44,936 181,307
2000 110,754 83,013 36,512 176,269
1999 102,295 -84,926 8,077 178,559
1998 103,906 -76,766 4,022 182,926
1997 105,433 -48,437 20,028 165,345
1996 104,140 -52,110 11,967 162,704
1995 100,885 -112,857 15,889 162,434
1994 101,486 -77,371 31,639 160,407
1993 103,317 -95,476 47,234 160,907
1992 103,251 -129,565 62,652 177,544
1991 105,477 -238,965 58,450 122,841
1990 100,778 131,587 66,075 -30,684
1989 98,298 -5,079 81,538 -25,892
1988 96,344 9,470 100,794 -17,663
1987 94,235 9,558 116,054 -12,681
1986 90,902 7,992 131,188 -13,540
1985 88,869 -7,873 146,184 -589
1984 87,072 -8,708 172,487 2,754
1983 84,628 -8,783 183,223 1,241
1982 82,457 -11,379 231,714 -7,384
1981 80,111 -12,699 237,879 2,563
1980 77,932 -11,641 281,184 20,166
1979 75,992 -13,095 312,407 -5,929
1978 74,130 -13,073 339,157 -2,504
1977 71,663 -12,399 361,465 -1,332
1976 69,506 -15,686 375,834 2,804
1975 67,560 -13,058 371,882 -218
1974 65,357 -11,473 396,182 105,838
1973 62,443 -9,322 374,381 8,624
1972 60,279 -8,267 391,030 7,935
1971 58,484 -8,162 369,625 7,363
1970 56,513 -4,957 378,723 -60,580
1969 54,768 -4,485 367,851 -49,956
1968 53,126 -3,743 387,423 -46,088
1967 51,734 -2,819 402,001 -42,344
1966 49,486 -2,911 397,084 -41,467
1965 47,223 -1,851 405,819 -42,476
1964 45,487 -2,308 429,885 -41,461
1963 43,569 -2,480 394,338 -44,446
1962 41,603 -2,658 384,690 -45,211
1961 40,022 -2,947 396,537 -46,517
1960 38,192 -3,528 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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