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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 1.01 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Switzerland
2100 16,111,324 9,234,296
2099 16,126,181 9,226,472
2098 16,139,280 9,220,109
2097 16,154,153 9,212,728
2096 16,164,923 9,208,997
2095 16,173,557 9,203,477
2094 16,173,155 9,199,095
2093 16,177,864 9,196,672
2092 16,175,032 9,194,082
2091 16,168,153 9,191,145
2090 16,158,415 9,189,122
2089 16,146,773 9,188,754
2088 16,133,018 9,190,102
2087 16,116,823 9,189,763
2086 16,089,780 9,191,494
2085 16,068,438 9,195,728
2084 16,044,782 9,199,983
2083 16,011,134 9,204,908
2082 15,975,073 9,210,695
2081 15,935,071 9,217,065
2080 15,896,846 9,223,475
2079 15,854,898 9,230,920
2078 15,805,607 9,237,649
2077 15,754,551 9,245,300
2076 15,699,439 9,250,248
2075 15,639,458 9,255,753
2074 15,584,377 9,266,455
2073 15,516,736 9,275,439
2072 15,446,543 9,283,185
2071 15,374,790 9,292,913
2070 15,297,449 9,303,843
2069 15,216,666 9,311,935
2068 15,128,048 9,320,335
2067 15,032,144 9,327,741
2066 14,935,222 9,339,455
2065 14,837,697 9,351,481
2064 14,740,749 9,362,413
2063 14,642,031 9,372,441
2062 14,529,557 9,383,258
2061 14,423,861 9,395,036
2060 14,311,215 9,403,920
2059 14,198,706 9,414,241
2058 14,080,827 9,422,560
2057 13,960,869 9,428,212
2056 13,836,132 9,435,441
2055 13,706,113 9,443,890
2054 13,579,802 9,451,268
2053 13,444,465 9,456,389
2052 13,303,409 9,456,418
2051 13,156,370 9,456,395
2050 13,010,109 9,454,544
2049 12,867,021 9,451,083
2048 12,716,015 9,444,091
2047 12,570,250 9,437,061
2046 12,414,307 9,430,954
2045 12,257,874 9,425,155
2044 12,092,075 9,418,152
2043 11,931,531 9,410,763
2042 11,770,467 9,400,808
2041 11,602,993 9,393,857
2040 11,431,337 9,382,662
2039 11,262,807 9,373,984
2038 11,100,099 9,365,030
2037 10,931,629 9,354,254
2036 10,760,758 9,342,450
2035 10,585,702 9,328,907
2034 10,413,826 9,312,054
2033 10,241,196 9,294,881
2032 10,062,575 9,276,221
2031 9,883,708 9,253,034
2030 9,708,038 9,228,188
2029 9,532,000 9,201,743
2028 9,360,873 9,170,620
2027 9,179,702 9,135,740
2026 9,001,269 9,097,532
2025 8,822,114 9,053,983
2024 8,642,022 9,005,582
2023 8,460,512 8,888,822
2022 8,276,807 8,777,088
2021 8,094,602 8,704,546
2020 7,912,558 8,638,167
2019 7,731,991 8,575,280
2018 7,554,563 8,514,329
2017 7,379,299 8,451,840
2016 7,205,328 8,373,338
2015 7,037,655 8,282,396
2014 6,876,385 8,188,649
2013 6,714,051 8,089,346
2012 6,551,080 7,996,861
2011 6,387,251 7,912,398
2010 6,222,714 7,824,909
2009 6,055,646 7,743,831
2008 5,894,722 7,647,675
2007 5,749,352 7,551,117
2006 5,624,466 7,483,934
2005 5,501,712 7,437,115
2004 5,355,717 7,389,625
2003 5,177,687 7,339,001
2002 4,971,435 7,284,753
2001 4,692,716 7,229,854
2000 4,423,611 7,184,250
1999 4,318,043 7,143,991
1998 4,295,785 7,110,001
1997 4,253,716 7,088,906
1996 4,199,210 7,071,850
1995 4,179,179 7,040,687
1994 4,173,105 6,993,795
1993 4,157,130 6,938,265
1992 4,166,366 6,875,364
1991 4,246,267 6,799,978
1990 4,196,828 6,715,519
1989 4,034,037 6,646,912
1988 3,934,517 6,593,386
1987 3,829,718 6,545,106
1986 3,728,380 6,504,124
1985 3,638,438 6,470,365
1984 3,558,758 6,441,865
1983 3,481,646 6,418,773
1982 3,408,183 6,391,309
1981 3,338,940 6,354,074
1980 3,272,089 6,319,408
1979 3,207,499 6,294,365
1978 3,145,517 6,281,738
1977 3,085,354 6,281,174
1976 3,028,820 6,302,504
1975 2,974,657 6,338,632
1974 2,920,459 6,341,405
1973 2,866,955 6,307,347
1972 2,814,388 6,260,956
1971 2,763,222 6,213,399
1970 2,712,286 6,180,877
1969 2,661,365 6,136,387
1968 2,611,532 6,067,714
1967 2,562,384 5,991,785
1966 2,514,638 5,918,002
1965 2,468,666 5,856,472
1964 2,424,390 5,789,228
1963 2,382,258 5,694,247
1962 2,342,242 5,573,815
1961 2,304,227 5,434,294
1960 2,268,356 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Switzerland
2100 -0.09% 0.08%
2099 -0.08% 0.07%
2098 -0.09% 0.08%
2097 -0.07% 0.04%
2096 -0.05% 0.06%
2095 0.002% 0.05%
2094 -0.03% 0.03%
2093 0.02% 0.03%
2092 0.04% 0.03%
2091 0.06% 0.02%
2090 0.07% 0.004%
2089 0.09% -0.01%
2088 0.1% 0.004%
2087 0.17% -0.02%
2086 0.13% -0.05%
2085 0.15% -0.05%
2084 0.21% -0.05%
2083 0.23% -0.06%
2082 0.25% -0.07%
2081 0.24% -0.07%
2080 0.26% -0.08%
2079 0.31% -0.07%
2078 0.32% -0.08%
2077 0.35% -0.05%
2076 0.38% -0.06%
2075 0.35% -0.12%
2074 0.44% -0.1%
2073 0.45% -0.08%
2072 0.47% -0.1%
2071 0.51% -0.12%
2070 0.53% -0.09%
2069 0.59% -0.09%
2068 0.64% -0.08%
2067 0.65% -0.13%
2066 0.66% -0.13%
2065 0.66% -0.12%
2064 0.67% -0.11%
2063 0.77% -0.12%
2062 0.73% -0.13%
2061 0.79% -0.09%
2060 0.79% -0.11%
2059 0.84% -0.09%
2058 0.86% -0.06%
2057 0.9% -0.08%
2056 0.95% -0.09%
2055 0.93% -0.08%
2054 1.01% -0.05%
2053 1.06% -0%
2052 1.12% 0%
2051 1.12% 0.02%
2050 1.11% 0.04%
2049 1.19% 0.07%
2048 1.16% 0.07%
2047 1.26% 0.06%
2046 1.28% 0.06%
2045 1.37% 0.07%
2044 1.35% 0.08%
2043 1.37% 0.11%
2042 1.44% 0.07%
2041 1.5% 0.12%
2040 1.5% 0.09%
2039 1.47% 0.1%
2038 1.54% 0.12%
2037 1.59% 0.13%
2036 1.65% 0.15%
2035 1.65% 0.18%
2034 1.69% 0.18%
2033 1.78% 0.2%
2032 1.81% 0.25%
2031 1.81% 0.27%
2030 1.85% 0.29%
2029 1.83% 0.34%
2028 1.97% 0.38%
2027 1.98% 0.42%
2026 2.03% 0.48%
2025 2.08% 0.54%
2024 2.15% 1.31%
2023 2.22% 1.27%
2022 2.25% 0.83%
2021 2.3% 0.77%
2020 2.34% 0.73%
2019 2.35% 0.72%
2018 2.38% 0.74%
2017 2.41% 0.94%
2016 2.38% 1.1%
2015 2.35% 1.14%
2014 2.42% 1.23%
2013 2.49% 1.16%
2012 2.56% 1.07%
2011 2.64% 1.12%
2010 2.76% 1.05%
2009 2.73% 1.26%
2008 2.53% 1.28%
2007 2.22% 0.9%
2006 2.23% 0.63%
2005 2.73% 0.64%
2004 3.44% 0.69%
2003 4.15% 0.74%
2002 5.94% 0.76%
2001 6.08% 0.63%
2000 2.44% 0.56%
1999 0.52% 0.48%
1998 0.99% 0.3%
1997 1.3% 0.24%
1996 0.48% 0.44%
1995 0.15% 0.67%
1994 0.38% 0.8%
1993 -0.22% 0.91%
1992 -1.88% 1.11%
1991 1.18% 1.26%
1990 4.04% 1.03%
1989 2.53% 0.81%
1988 2.74% 0.74%
1987 2.72% 0.63%
1986 2.47% 0.52%
1985 2.24% 0.44%
1984 2.21% 0.36%
1983 2.16% 0.43%
1982 2.07% 0.59%
1981 2.04% 0.55%
1980 2.01% 0.4%
1979 1.97% 0.2%
1978 1.95% 0.009%
1977 1.87% -0.34%
1976 1.82% -0.57%
1975 1.86% -0.04%
1974 1.87% 0.54%
1973 1.87% 0.74%
1972 1.85% 0.77%
1971 1.88% 0.53%
1970 1.91% 0.73%
1969 1.91% 1.13%
1968 1.92% 1.27%
1967 1.9% 1.25%
1966 1.86% 1.05%
1965 1.83% 1.16%
1964 1.77% 1.67%
1963 1.71% 2.16%
1962 1.65% 2.57%
1961 1.58% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Switzerland
Current population
9049533
9107866
Population rank 101/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.11%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
2.03 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
7.5 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +320
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 81/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +37,253
Net migration rank 136/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 37,253
2024 - -11,000 - 40,099
2023 188,788 -4,000 8,000 45,098
2022 186,625 -4,000 7,899 96,424
2021 183,326 -1,544 18,279 50,665
2020 181,015 1,292 9,502 55,523
2019 181,068 -2,238 18,008 44,517
2018 178,772 -2,741 20,434 41,253
2017 173,259 1,234 20,284 45,658
2016 168,784 4,657 22,608 71,009
2015 162,275 -356 19,050 71,876
2014 160,137 485 21,290 78,122
2013 161,265 2,773 17,797 83,823
2012 160,915 988 18,393 67,840
2011 158,858 6,895 18,990 67,194
2010 155,338 7,983 17,997 76,388
2009 152,669 18,145 15,487 69,324
2008 149,855 1,182 15,295 94,430
2007 145,740 -6,042 13,592 72,475
2006 144,127 -34,052 12,723 37,308
2005 137,234 -1,805 11,899 33,203
2004 132,661 23,897 13,302 39,484
2003 130,312 69,185 8,807 42,567
2002 126,429 86,578 10,199 49,650
2001 116,647 227,791 10,845 35,420
2000 110,754 83,013 15,806 24,463
1999 102,295 -84,926 16,431 25,599
1998 103,906 -76,766 16,353 11,325
1997 105,433 -48,437 17,722 -1,939
1996 104,140 -52,110 19,801 -131
1995 100,885 -112,857 19,010 25,343
1994 101,486 -77,371 20,982 30,274
1993 103,317 -95,476 21,509 40,267
1992 103,251 -129,565 24,064 42,014
1991 105,477 -238,965 23,800 69,738
1990 100,778 131,587 20,146 58,428
1989 98,298 -5,079 19,941 34,432
1988 96,344 9,470 21,099 34,602
1987 94,235 9,558 15,708 27,081
1986 90,902 7,992 16,261 23,242
1985 88,869 -7,873 14,882 14,402
1984 87,072 -8,708 16,105 12,532
1983 84,628 -8,783 12,837 5,663
1982 82,457 -11,379 15,339 21,929
1981 80,111 -12,699 13,979 24,229
1980 77,932 -11,641 14,535 17,841
1979 75,992 -13,095 14,477 4,262
1978 74,130 -13,073 13,820 -6,552
1977 71,663 -12,399 16,959 -22,516
1976 69,506 -15,686 17,017 -54,255
1975 67,560 -13,058 22,820 -58,187
1974 65,357 -11,473 27,902 2,008
1973 62,443 -9,322 30,906 8,158
1972 60,279 -8,267 35,061 19,991
1971 58,484 -8,162 38,523 2,636
1970 56,513 -4,957 42,648 -18,326
1969 54,768 -4,485 44,182 20,754
1968 53,126 -3,743 47,328 25,828
1967 51,734 -2,819 52,128 27,697
1966 49,486 -2,911 53,854 14,979
1965 47,223 -1,851 56,222 -1,351
1964 45,487 -2,308 59,050 21,455
1963 43,569 -2,480 52,956 58,415
1962 41,603 -2,658 49,050 82,798
1961 40,022 -2,947 48,365 101,278
1960 38,192 -3,528 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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