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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,819,794 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,090,531 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 2.97 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 100th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.29% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.09M (61.6% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Syria
2100 16,107,087 44,500,028
2099 16,121,940 44,570,009
2098 16,135,035 44,629,837
2097 16,149,905 44,692,566
2096 16,160,672 44,747,012
2095 16,169,304 44,774,686
2094 16,168,902 44,824,294
2093 16,173,609 44,853,295
2092 16,170,778 44,882,700
2091 16,163,901 44,895,349
2090 16,154,165 44,926,869
2089 16,142,526 44,925,891
2088 16,128,775 44,920,667
2087 16,112,585 44,928,298
2086 16,085,549 44,947,658
2085 16,064,212 44,913,669
2084 16,040,563 44,878,845
2083 16,006,923 44,850,592
2082 15,970,872 44,790,014
2081 15,930,880 44,723,244
2080 15,892,665 44,624,321
2079 15,850,728 44,567,127
2078 15,801,450 44,529,618
2077 15,750,408 44,484,155
2076 15,695,310 44,400,339
2075 15,635,345 44,306,882
2074 15,580,279 44,209,517
2073 15,512,655 44,102,028
2072 15,442,481 43,965,642
2071 15,370,747 43,821,617
2070 15,293,426 43,678,154
2069 15,212,664 43,530,683
2068 15,124,069 43,348,487
2067 15,028,190 43,154,741
2066 14,931,295 42,944,885
2065 14,833,794 42,695,249
2064 14,736,872 42,445,036
2063 14,638,180 42,198,056
2062 14,525,736 41,949,014
2061 14,420,068 41,695,586
2060 14,307,451 41,410,547
2059 14,194,972 41,097,942
2058 14,077,124 40,815,606
2057 13,957,197 40,534,091
2056 13,832,494 40,224,053
2055 13,702,508 39,918,930
2054 13,576,231 39,584,624
2053 13,440,929 39,242,144
2052 13,299,910 38,940,206
2051 13,152,910 38,629,604
2050 13,006,688 38,307,069
2049 12,863,637 37,986,965
2048 12,712,671 37,682,780
2047 12,566,944 37,391,752
2046 12,411,042 37,081,479
2045 12,254,651 36,744,441
2044 12,088,895 36,428,225
2043 11,928,393 36,090,851
2042 11,767,372 35,729,021
2041 11,599,942 35,352,033
2040 11,428,331 34,947,817
2039 11,259,845 34,533,772
2038 11,097,180 34,091,760
2037 10,928,754 33,612,993
2036 10,757,928 33,134,445
2035 10,582,918 32,608,669
2034 10,411,088 32,062,309
2033 10,238,503 31,477,500
2032 10,059,929 30,883,996
2031 9,881,109 30,248,264
2030 9,705,485 29,592,787
2029 9,529,493 28,871,638
2028 9,358,412 28,141,821
2027 9,177,288 27,355,002
2026 8,998,902 26,535,554
2025 8,819,794 25,620,427
2024 8,642,022 24,672,760
2023 8,460,512 23,594,623
2022 8,276,807 22,462,173
2021 8,094,602 21,628,839
2020 7,912,558 21,049,429
2019 7,731,991 20,353,534
2018 7,554,563 19,577,845
2017 7,379,299 19,224,668
2016 7,205,328 19,193,834
2015 7,037,655 19,424,618
2014 6,876,385 20,273,659
2013 6,714,051 21,666,917
2012 6,551,080 22,759,763
2011 6,387,251 22,878,098
2010 6,222,714 22,482,421
2009 6,055,646 21,976,969
2008 5,894,722 21,636,564
2007 5,749,352 20,884,125
2006 5,624,466 19,637,022
2005 5,501,712 18,814,091
2004 5,355,717 18,336,875
2003 5,177,687 17,889,296
2002 4,971,435 17,468,332
2001 4,692,716 17,051,338
2000 4,423,611 16,637,888
1999 4,318,043 16,228,061
1998 4,295,785 15,820,413
1997 4,253,716 15,417,542
1996 4,199,210 15,018,104
1995 4,179,179 14,616,801
1994 4,173,105 14,208,583
1993 4,157,130 13,795,686
1992 4,166,366 13,385,571
1991 4,246,267 12,980,821
1990 4,196,828 12,579,208
1989 4,034,037 12,179,060
1988 3,934,517 11,782,264
1987 3,829,718 11,388,923
1986 3,728,380 11,002,844
1985 3,638,438 10,625,672
1984 3,558,758 10,258,398
1983 3,481,646 9,904,809
1982 3,408,183 9,572,511
1981 3,338,940 9,260,189
1980 3,272,089 8,957,663
1979 3,207,499 8,661,909
1978 3,145,517 8,372,759
1977 3,085,354 8,090,501
1976 3,028,820 7,817,320
1975 2,974,657 7,554,364
1974 2,920,459 7,302,160
1973 2,866,955 7,060,321
1972 2,814,388 6,826,024
1971 2,763,222 6,598,094
1970 2,712,286 6,380,609
1969 2,661,365 6,175,166
1968 2,611,532 5,978,742
1967 2,562,384 5,790,198
1966 2,514,638 5,609,047
1965 2,468,666 5,435,267
1964 2,424,390 5,269,087
1963 2,382,258 5,110,467
1962 2,342,242 4,959,340
1961 2,304,227 4,815,466
1960 2,268,356 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 100th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Syria
2100 -0.09% -0.16%
2099 -0.08% -0.13%
2098 -0.09% -0.14%
2097 -0.07% -0.12%
2096 -0.05% -0.06%
2095 0.002% -0.11%
2094 -0.03% -0.06%
2093 0.02% -0.07%
2092 0.04% -0.03%
2091 0.06% -0.07%
2090 0.07% 0.002%
2089 0.09% 0.01%
2088 0.1% -0.02%
2087 0.17% -0.04%
2086 0.13% 0.08%
2085 0.15% 0.08%
2084 0.21% 0.06%
2083 0.23% 0.14%
2082 0.25% 0.15%
2081 0.24% 0.22%
2080 0.26% 0.13%
2079 0.31% 0.08%
2078 0.32% 0.1%
2077 0.35% 0.19%
2076 0.38% 0.21%
2075 0.35% 0.22%
2074 0.44% 0.24%
2073 0.45% 0.31%
2072 0.47% 0.33%
2071 0.51% 0.33%
2070 0.53% 0.34%
2069 0.59% 0.42%
2068 0.64% 0.45%
2067 0.65% 0.49%
2066 0.66% 0.58%
2065 0.66% 0.59%
2064 0.67% 0.59%
2063 0.77% 0.59%
2062 0.73% 0.61%
2061 0.79% 0.69%
2060 0.79% 0.76%
2059 0.84% 0.69%
2058 0.86% 0.69%
2057 0.9% 0.77%
2056 0.95% 0.76%
2055 0.93% 0.84%
2054 1.01% 0.87%
2053 1.06% 0.78%
2052 1.12% 0.8%
2051 1.12% 0.84%
2050 1.11% 0.84%
2049 1.19% 0.81%
2048 1.16% 0.78%
2047 1.26% 0.84%
2046 1.28% 0.92%
2045 1.37% 0.87%
2044 1.35% 0.93%
2043 1.37% 1.01%
2042 1.44% 1.07%
2041 1.5% 1.16%
2040 1.5% 1.2%
2039 1.47% 1.3%
2038 1.54% 1.42%
2037 1.59% 1.44%
2036 1.65% 1.61%
2035 1.65% 1.7%
2034 1.69% 1.86%
2033 1.78% 1.92%
2032 1.81% 2.1%
2031 1.81% 2.21%
2030 1.85% 2.5%
2029 1.83% 2.59%
2028 1.97% 2.88%
2027 1.98% 3.09%
2026 2.03% 3.57%
2025 2.06% 3.84%
2024 2.15% 4.57%
2023 2.22% 5.04%
2022 2.25% 3.85%
2021 2.3% 2.75%
2020 2.34% 3.42%
2019 2.35% 3.96%
2018 2.38% 1.84%
2017 2.41% 0.16%
2016 2.38% -1.19%
2015 2.35% -4.19%
2014 2.42% -6.43%
2013 2.49% -4.8%
2012 2.56% -0.52%
2011 2.64% 1.76%
2010 2.76% 2.3%
2009 2.73% 1.57%
2008 2.53% 3.6%
2007 2.22% 6.35%
2006 2.23% 4.37%
2005 2.73% 2.6%
2004 3.44% 2.5%
2003 4.15% 2.41%
2002 5.94% 2.45%
2001 6.08% 2.48%
2000 2.44% 2.53%
1999 0.52% 2.58%
1998 0.99% 2.61%
1997 1.3% 2.66%
1996 0.48% 2.75%
1995 0.15% 2.87%
1994 0.38% 2.99%
1993 -0.22% 3.06%
1992 -1.88% 3.12%
1991 1.18% 3.19%
1990 4.04% 3.29%
1989 2.53% 3.37%
1988 2.74% 3.45%
1987 2.72% 3.51%
1986 2.47% 3.55%
1985 2.24% 3.58%
1984 2.21% 3.57%
1983 2.16% 3.47%
1982 2.07% 3.37%
1981 2.04% 3.38%
1980 2.01% 3.41%
1979 1.97% 3.45%
1978 1.95% 3.49%
1977 1.87% 3.49%
1976 1.82% 3.48%
1975 1.86% 3.45%
1974 1.87% 3.43%
1973 1.87% 3.43%
1972 1.85% 3.45%
1971 1.88% 3.41%
1970 1.91% 3.33%
1969 1.91% 3.29%
1968 1.92% 3.26%
1967 1.9% 3.23%
1966 1.86% 3.2%
1965 1.83% 3.15%
1964 1.77% 3.1%
1963 1.71% 3.05%
1962 1.65% 2.99%
1961 1.58% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.06%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Syria
Current population
9090531
26956472
Population rank 100/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.32%
One net population change
2.96 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
2.02 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
7.41 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +487 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +177,772 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.06% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 5/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +421,693
Net migration rank 136/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 421,693
2024 189,234 -11,000 449,784 546,494
2023 188,788 -4,000 402,713 757,309
2022 186,625 -4,000 369,750 735,142
2021 183,326 -1,544 350,560 211,220
2020 181,015 1,292 327,992 269,050
2019 181,068 -2,238 293,762 500,985
2018 178,772 -2,741 242,530 514,102
2017 173,259 1,234 237,214 -287,501
2016 168,784 4,657 236,007 -124,063
2015 162,275 -356 253,977 -827,496
2014 160,137 485 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 161,265 2,773 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 160,915 988 475,520 -999,267
2011 158,858 6,895 543,950 -256,888
2010 155,338 7,983 558,666 -54,359
2009 152,669 18,145 559,314 -52,703
2008 149,855 1,182 576,593 -402,393
2007 145,740 -6,042 529,162 801,514
2006 144,127 -34,052 480,616 682,911
2005 137,234 -1,805 468,960 13,382
2004 132,661 23,897 461,209 10,881
2003 130,312 69,185 457,000 -33,920
2002 126,429 86,578 453,967 -35,096
2001 116,647 227,791 451,503 -36,383
2000 110,754 83,013 446,211 -34,425
1999 102,295 -84,926 439,261 -31,394
1998 103,906 -76,766 433,447 -26,025
1997 105,433 -48,437 429,887 -31,571
1996 104,140 -52,110 430,765 -30,197
1995 100,885 -112,857 430,172 -28,122
1994 101,486 -77,371 426,996 -12,630
1993 103,317 -95,476 420,244 -8,828
1992 103,251 -129,565 412,878 -4,063
1991 105,477 -238,965 410,830 -10,154
1990 100,778 131,587 409,177 -6,620
1989 98,298 -5,079 406,111 -8,379
1988 96,344 9,470 404,285 -8,426
1987 94,235 9,558 399,159 -8,335
1986 90,902 7,992 390,821 -9,485
1985 88,869 -7,873 379,231 -6,221
1984 87,072 -8,708 366,768 -5,245
1983 84,628 -8,783 355,375 -9,729
1982 82,457 -11,379 319,664 -721
1981 80,111 -12,699 330,237 -24,536
1980 77,932 -11,641 332,464 -33,114
1979 75,992 -13,095 324,943 -32,793
1978 74,130 -13,073 316,724 -30,567
1977 71,663 -12,399 306,630 -28,275
1976 69,506 -15,686 294,267 -26,268
1975 67,560 -13,058 282,299 -24,389
1974 65,357 -11,473 270,735 -24,242
1973 62,443 -9,322 254,687 -17,502
1972 60,279 -8,267 249,027 -17,610
1971 58,484 -8,162 239,610 -15,167
1970 56,513 -4,957 230,117 -19,594
1969 54,768 -4,485 219,114 -18,749
1968 53,126 -3,743 209,454 -16,968
1967 51,734 -2,819 199,223 -14,618
1966 49,486 -2,911 191,122 -13,434
1965 47,223 -1,851 182,560 -12,704
1964 45,487 -2,308 174,549 -12,044
1963 43,569 -2,480 166,555 -11,817
1962 41,603 -2,658 159,155 -11,641
1961 40,022 -2,947 151,485 -11,237
1960 38,192 -3,528 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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