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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,819,794 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,090,531 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.17 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 100th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.29% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.09M (61.6% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Sweden
2100 16,107,087 11,330,987
2099 16,121,940 11,334,835
2098 16,135,035 11,339,107
2097 16,149,905 11,340,268
2096 16,160,672 11,341,947
2095 16,169,304 11,344,893
2094 16,168,902 11,347,531
2093 16,173,609 11,349,412
2092 16,170,778 11,351,452
2091 16,163,901 11,352,899
2090 16,154,165 11,354,820
2089 16,142,526 11,357,746
2088 16,128,775 11,360,405
2087 16,112,585 11,364,197
2086 16,085,549 11,371,529
2085 16,064,212 11,376,573
2084 16,040,563 11,381,332
2083 16,006,923 11,384,862
2082 15,970,872 11,390,058
2081 15,930,880 11,391,696
2080 15,892,665 11,393,882
2079 15,850,728 11,393,412
2078 15,801,450 11,391,291
2077 15,750,408 11,389,212
2076 15,695,310 11,385,385
2075 15,635,345 11,381,261
2074 15,580,279 11,377,973
2073 15,512,655 11,375,051
2072 15,442,481 11,371,362
2071 15,370,747 11,366,451
2070 15,293,426 11,362,742
2069 15,212,664 11,358,895
2068 15,124,069 11,357,504
2067 15,028,190 11,356,672
2066 14,931,295 11,356,676
2065 14,833,794 11,355,953
2064 14,736,872 11,354,988
2063 14,638,180 11,354,834
2062 14,525,736 11,355,452
2061 14,420,068 11,353,198
2060 14,307,451 11,352,013
2059 14,194,972 11,349,674
2058 14,077,124 11,345,893
2057 13,957,197 11,340,487
2056 13,832,494 11,335,234
2055 13,702,508 11,328,291
2054 13,576,231 11,320,768
2053 13,440,929 11,310,127
2052 13,299,910 11,296,358
2051 13,152,910 11,280,503
2050 13,006,688 11,261,537
2049 12,863,637 11,242,070
2048 12,712,671 11,221,274
2047 12,566,944 11,199,365
2046 12,411,042 11,176,512
2045 12,254,651 11,152,739
2044 12,088,895 11,127,765
2043 11,928,393 11,102,354
2042 11,767,372 11,076,504
2041 11,599,942 11,052,951
2040 11,428,331 11,028,609
2039 11,259,845 11,005,487
2038 11,097,180 10,983,160
2037 10,928,754 10,961,591
2036 10,757,928 10,938,759
2035 10,582,918 10,916,327
2034 10,411,088 10,893,717
2033 10,238,503 10,869,588
2032 10,059,929 10,844,339
2031 9,881,109 10,819,037
2030 9,705,485 10,790,557
2029 9,529,493 10,759,017
2028 9,358,412 10,724,017
2027 9,177,288 10,685,143
2026 8,998,902 10,643,884
2025 8,819,794 10,596,620
2024 8,642,022 10,569,709
2023 8,460,512 10,536,632
2022 8,276,807 10,486,941
2021 8,094,602 10,415,811
2020 7,912,558 10,353,442
2019 7,731,991 10,278,887
2018 7,554,563 10,175,214
2017 7,379,299 10,057,698
2016 7,205,328 9,923,085
2015 7,037,655 9,799,186
2014 6,876,385 9,696,110
2013 6,714,051 9,600,379
2012 6,551,080 9,519,374
2011 6,387,251 9,449,213
2010 6,222,714 9,378,126
2009 6,055,646 9,298,515
2008 5,894,722 9,219,637
2007 5,749,352 9,148,092
2006 5,624,466 9,080,505
2005 5,501,712 9,029,572
2004 5,355,717 8,993,531
2003 5,177,687 8,958,229
2002 4,971,435 8,924,958
2001 4,692,716 8,895,960
2000 4,423,611 8,872,109
1999 4,318,043 8,857,874
1998 4,295,785 8,850,974
1997 4,253,716 8,846,062
1996 4,199,210 8,840,998
1995 4,179,179 8,826,939
1994 4,173,105 8,780,745
1993 4,157,130 8,718,561
1992 4,166,366 8,668,067
1991 4,246,267 8,617,375
1990 4,196,828 8,558,835
1989 4,034,037 8,492,964
1988 3,934,517 8,436,489
1987 3,829,718 8,397,804
1986 3,728,380 8,369,829
1985 3,638,438 8,350,386
1984 3,558,758 8,336,605
1983 3,481,646 8,329,033
1982 3,408,183 8,325,263
1981 3,338,940 8,320,503
1980 3,272,089 8,310,531
1979 3,207,499 8,293,678
1978 3,145,517 8,275,599
1977 3,085,354 8,251,540
1976 3,028,820 8,222,286
1975 2,974,657 8,192,437
1974 2,920,459 8,159,955
1973 2,866,955 8,136,312
1972 2,814,388 8,122,300
1971 2,763,222 8,098,334
1970 2,712,286 8,042,801
1969 2,661,365 7,968,072
1968 2,611,532 7,912,273
1967 2,562,384 7,867,931
1966 2,514,638 7,807,797
1965 2,468,666 7,733,853
1964 2,424,390 7,661,354
1963 2,382,258 7,604,328
1962 2,342,242 7,561,588
1961 2,304,227 7,519,998
1960 2,268,356 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 100th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Sweden
2100 -0.09% -0.03%
2099 -0.08% -0.04%
2098 -0.09% -0.01%
2097 -0.07% -0.01%
2096 -0.05% -0.03%
2095 0.002% -0.02%
2094 -0.03% -0.02%
2093 0.02% -0.02%
2092 0.04% -0.01%
2091 0.06% -0.02%
2090 0.07% -0.03%
2089 0.09% -0.02%
2088 0.1% -0.03%
2087 0.17% -0.06%
2086 0.13% -0.04%
2085 0.15% -0.04%
2084 0.21% -0.03%
2083 0.23% -0.05%
2082 0.25% -0.01%
2081 0.24% -0.02%
2080 0.26% 0.004%
2079 0.31% 0.02%
2078 0.32% 0.02%
2077 0.35% 0.03%
2076 0.38% 0.04%
2075 0.35% 0.03%
2074 0.44% 0.03%
2073 0.45% 0.03%
2072 0.47% 0.04%
2071 0.51% 0.03%
2070 0.53% 0.03%
2069 0.59% 0.01%
2068 0.64% 0.007%
2067 0.65% -0%
2066 0.66% 0.006%
2065 0.66% 0.009%
2064 0.67% 0.001%
2063 0.77% -0.005%
2062 0.73% 0.02%
2061 0.79% 0.01%
2060 0.79% 0.02%
2059 0.84% 0.03%
2058 0.86% 0.05%
2057 0.9% 0.05%
2056 0.95% 0.06%
2055 0.93% 0.07%
2054 1.01% 0.09%
2053 1.06% 0.12%
2052 1.12% 0.14%
2051 1.12% 0.17%
2050 1.11% 0.17%
2049 1.19% 0.19%
2048 1.16% 0.2%
2047 1.26% 0.2%
2046 1.28% 0.21%
2045 1.37% 0.22%
2044 1.35% 0.23%
2043 1.37% 0.23%
2042 1.44% 0.21%
2041 1.5% 0.22%
2040 1.5% 0.21%
2039 1.47% 0.2%
2038 1.54% 0.2%
2037 1.59% 0.21%
2036 1.65% 0.21%
2035 1.65% 0.21%
2034 1.69% 0.22%
2033 1.78% 0.23%
2032 1.81% 0.23%
2031 1.81% 0.26%
2030 1.85% 0.29%
2029 1.83% 0.33%
2028 1.97% 0.36%
2027 1.98% 0.39%
2026 2.03% 0.45%
2025 2.06% 0.25%
2024 2.15% 0.31%
2023 2.22% 0.47%
2022 2.25% 0.68%
2021 2.3% 0.6%
2020 2.34% 0.73%
2019 2.35% 1.02%
2018 2.38% 1.17%
2017 2.41% 1.36%
2016 2.38% 1.26%
2015 2.35% 1.06%
2014 2.42% 1%
2013 2.49% 0.85%
2012 2.56% 0.74%
2011 2.64% 0.76%
2010 2.76% 0.86%
2009 2.73% 0.86%
2008 2.53% 0.78%
2007 2.22% 0.74%
2006 2.23% 0.56%
2005 2.73% 0.4%
2004 3.44% 0.39%
2003 4.15% 0.37%
2002 5.94% 0.33%
2001 6.08% 0.27%
2000 2.44% 0.16%
1999 0.52% 0.08%
1998 0.99% 0.06%
1997 1.3% 0.06%
1996 0.48% 0.16%
1995 0.15% 0.53%
1994 0.38% 0.71%
1993 -0.22% 0.58%
1992 -1.88% 0.59%
1991 1.18% 0.68%
1990 4.04% 0.78%
1989 2.53% 0.67%
1988 2.74% 0.46%
1987 2.72% 0.33%
1986 2.47% 0.23%
1985 2.24% 0.17%
1984 2.21% 0.09%
1983 2.16% 0.05%
1982 2.07% 0.06%
1981 2.04% 0.12%
1980 2.01% 0.2%
1979 1.97% 0.22%
1978 1.95% 0.29%
1977 1.87% 0.36%
1976 1.82% 0.36%
1975 1.86% 0.4%
1974 1.87% 0.29%
1973 1.87% 0.17%
1972 1.85% 0.3%
1971 1.88% 0.69%
1970 1.91% 0.94%
1969 1.91% 0.71%
1968 1.92% 0.56%
1967 1.9% 0.77%
1966 1.86% 0.96%
1965 1.83% 0.95%
1964 1.77% 0.75%
1963 1.71% 0.57%
1962 1.65% 0.55%
1961 1.58% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.06%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Sweden
Current population
9090531
10665077
Population rank 100/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.13%
One net population change
2.96 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
2.02 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
7.41 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +487 +74
Annual growth/decline +177,772 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +2.06% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 148/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +47,079
Net migration rank 136/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 47,079
2024 189,234 -11,000 7,399 50,115
2023 188,788 -4,000 5,269 55,209
2022 186,625 -4,000 10,487 58,955
2021 183,326 -1,544 22,914 51,947
2020 181,015 1,292 14,495 37,302
2019 181,068 -2,238 25,697 72,619
2018 178,772 -2,741 23,403 87,517
2017 173,259 1,234 24,138 102,671
2016 168,784 4,657 25,800 119,234
2015 162,275 -356 23,518 80,534
2014 160,137 485 26,179 77,654
2013 161,265 2,773 23,041 66,760
2012 160,915 988 20,943 52,879
2011 158,858 6,895 21,733 46,049
2010 155,338 7,983 25,320 51,175
2009 152,669 18,145 21,387 63,638
2008 149,855 1,182 18,439 56,452
2007 145,740 -6,042 15,552 54,907
2006 144,127 -34,052 15,436 51,675
2005 137,234 -1,805 9,030 27,030
2004 132,661 23,897 9,893 25,842
2003 130,312 69,185 6,271 29,161
2002 126,429 86,578 893 31,364
2001 116,647 227,791 -1,779 28,856
2000 110,754 83,013 -2,662 24,900
1999 102,295 -84,926 -6,201 13,940
1998 103,906 -76,766 -3,541 11,325
1997 105,433 -48,437 -3,539 6,047
1996 104,140 -52,110 1,768 5,773
1995 100,885 -112,857 9,710 11,621
1994 101,486 -77,371 20,196 51,545
1993 103,317 -95,476 20,924 32,725
1992 103,251 -129,565 28,605 20,507
1991 105,477 -238,965 29,299 25,314
1990 100,778 131,587 29,100 35,668
1989 98,298 -5,079 24,629 44,565
1988 96,344 9,470 15,186 30,064
1987 94,235 9,558 11,757 21,335
1986 90,902 7,992 9,206 15,211
1985 88,869 -7,873 4,175 11,464
1984 87,072 -8,708 3,335 8,668
1983 84,628 -8,783 833 2,105
1982 82,457 -11,379 1,665 2,524
1981 80,111 -12,699 1,664 3,209
1980 77,932 -11,641 5,818 10,040
1979 75,992 -13,095 4,976 13,895
1978 74,130 -13,073 4,138 13,807
1977 71,663 -12,399 7,426 23,528
1976 69,506 -15,686 8,222 20,324
1975 67,560 -13,058 14,746 16,564
1974 65,357 -11,473 23,664 9,217
1973 62,443 -9,322 24,409 -9,551
1972 60,279 -8,267 28,428 -13,519
1971 58,484 -8,162 31,583 2,334
1970 56,513 -4,957 30,563 47,242
1969 54,768 -4,485 23,904 48,824
1968 53,126 -3,743 30,858 8,545
1967 51,734 -2,819 41,700 11,075
1966 49,486 -2,911 45,286 24,920
1965 47,223 -1,851 44,857 32,444
1964 45,487 -2,308 45,968 23,581
1963 43,569 -2,480 35,741 11,009
1962 41,603 -2,658 30,246 9,627
1961 40,022 -2,947 30,832 14,401
1960 38,192 -3,528 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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