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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 2.96 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st 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 +2.32% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Syria
2100 16,111,324 44,620,090
2099 16,126,181 44,690,260
2098 16,139,280 44,750,249
2097 16,154,153 44,813,148
2096 16,164,923 44,867,740
2095 16,173,557 44,895,489
2094 16,173,155 44,945,231
2093 16,177,864 44,974,311
2092 16,175,032 45,003,795
2091 16,168,153 45,016,478
2090 16,158,415 45,048,083
2089 16,146,773 45,047,102
2088 16,133,018 45,041,864
2087 16,116,823 45,049,516
2086 16,089,780 45,068,928
2085 16,068,438 45,034,847
2084 16,044,782 44,999,929
2083 16,011,134 44,971,600
2082 15,975,073 44,910,859
2081 15,935,071 44,843,908
2080 15,896,846 44,744,718
2079 15,854,898 44,687,371
2078 15,805,607 44,649,760
2077 15,754,551 44,604,175
2076 15,699,439 44,520,132
2075 15,639,458 44,426,423
2074 15,584,377 44,328,795
2073 15,516,736 44,221,016
2072 15,446,543 44,084,262
2071 15,374,790 43,939,848
2070 15,297,449 43,795,999
2069 15,216,666 43,648,130
2068 15,128,048 43,465,442
2067 15,032,144 43,271,173
2066 14,935,222 43,060,752
2065 14,837,697 42,810,442
2064 14,740,749 42,559,554
2063 14,642,031 42,311,907
2062 14,529,557 42,062,193
2061 14,423,861 41,808,082
2060 14,311,215 41,522,274
2059 14,198,706 41,208,825
2058 14,080,827 40,925,728
2057 13,960,869 40,643,453
2056 13,836,132 40,332,578
2055 13,706,113 40,026,632
2054 13,579,802 39,691,425
2053 13,444,465 39,348,020
2052 13,303,409 39,045,268
2051 13,156,370 38,733,827
2050 13,010,109 38,410,423
2049 12,867,021 38,089,455
2048 12,716,015 37,784,449
2047 12,570,250 37,492,636
2046 12,414,307 37,181,526
2045 12,257,874 36,843,579
2044 12,092,075 36,526,509
2043 11,931,531 36,188,225
2042 11,770,467 35,825,419
2041 11,602,993 35,447,414
2040 11,431,337 35,042,107
2039 11,262,807 34,626,945
2038 11,100,099 34,183,740
2037 10,931,629 33,703,682
2036 10,760,758 33,223,843
2035 10,585,702 32,696,648
2034 10,413,826 32,148,814
2033 10,241,196 31,562,427
2032 10,062,575 30,967,322
2031 9,883,708 30,329,874
2030 9,708,038 29,672,629
2029 9,532,000 28,949,535
2028 9,360,873 28,217,748
2027 9,179,702 27,428,807
2026 9,001,269 26,607,148
2025 8,822,114 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st 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 43.8% to 13,010,109 people with a rank change from 101st to 91st. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M 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 2.08% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Syria
Current population
9049533
26829400
Population rank 101/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.32%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
2.03 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
7.5 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 6/197
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 - -11,000 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | 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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