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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 68,560,157 people in Tanzania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 73,145,892 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 8.08 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 0.99% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.88% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +3.13% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.1M (81.5% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2100 16,111,324 265,496,854
2099 16,126,181 263,162,785
2098 16,139,280 260,809,535
2097 16,154,153 258,412,520
2096 16,164,923 255,996,677
2095 16,173,557 253,567,416
2094 16,173,155 251,119,386
2093 16,177,864 248,628,881
2092 16,175,032 246,107,108
2091 16,168,153 243,557,182
2090 16,158,415 241,002,065
2089 16,146,773 238,416,591
2088 16,133,018 235,797,530
2087 16,116,823 233,167,455
2086 16,089,780 230,496,041
2085 16,068,438 227,800,292
2084 16,044,782 225,111,530
2083 16,011,134 222,421,279
2082 15,975,073 219,718,263
2081 15,935,071 216,995,478
2080 15,896,846 214,255,926
2079 15,854,898 211,486,253
2078 15,805,607 208,708,063
2077 15,754,551 205,918,120
2076 15,699,439 203,106,125
2075 15,639,458 200,297,474
2074 15,584,377 197,468,017
2073 15,516,736 194,642,633
2072 15,446,543 191,824,103
2071 15,374,790 188,992,017
2070 15,297,449 186,152,377
2069 15,216,666 183,311,218
2068 15,128,048 180,475,586
2067 15,032,144 177,639,469
2066 14,935,222 174,803,090
2065 14,837,697 171,913,445
2064 14,740,749 169,064,549
2063 14,642,031 166,217,933
2062 14,529,557 163,370,044
2061 14,423,861 160,537,159
2060 14,311,215 157,722,273
2059 14,198,706 154,920,005
2058 14,080,827 152,120,539
2057 13,960,869 149,325,489
2056 13,836,132 146,519,472
2055 13,706,113 143,736,540
2054 13,579,802 140,983,905
2053 13,444,465 138,262,668
2052 13,303,409 135,553,723
2051 13,156,370 132,851,383
2050 13,010,109 130,157,751
2049 12,867,021 127,495,278
2048 12,716,015 124,821,109
2047 12,570,250 122,158,290
2046 12,414,307 119,522,516
2045 12,257,874 116,914,785
2044 12,092,075 114,329,740
2043 11,931,531 111,776,234
2042 11,770,467 109,241,835
2041 11,602,993 106,748,632
2040 11,431,337 104,272,418
2039 11,262,807 101,814,304
2038 11,100,099 99,380,232
2037 10,931,629 96,983,729
2036 10,760,758 94,601,865
2035 10,585,702 92,257,269
2034 10,413,826 89,929,444
2033 10,241,196 87,654,982
2032 10,062,575 85,409,993
2031 9,883,708 83,180,507
2030 9,708,038 80,997,163
2029 9,532,000 78,838,461
2028 9,360,873 76,730,649
2027 9,179,702 74,647,063
2026 9,001,269 72,589,279
2025 8,822,114 70,552,589
2024 8,642,022 68,560,157
2023 8,460,512 66,617,606
2022 8,276,807 64,711,821
2021 8,094,602 62,830,412
2020 7,912,558 60,972,798
2019 7,731,991 59,174,891
2018 7,554,563 57,437,145
2017 7,379,299 55,652,890
2016 7,205,328 53,824,013
2015 7,037,655 52,020,962
2014 6,876,385 50,351,512
2013 6,714,051 48,824,128
2012 6,551,080 47,374,260
2011 6,387,251 46,029,367
2010 6,222,714 44,758,488
2009 6,055,646 43,633,982
2008 5,894,722 42,570,728
2007 5,749,352 41,435,512
2006 5,624,466 40,294,902
2005 5,501,712 39,182,076
2004 5,355,717 38,109,668
2003 5,177,687 37,089,555
2002 4,971,435 36,121,304
2001 4,692,716 35,198,299
2000 4,423,611 34,260,139
1999 4,318,043 33,300,330
1998 4,295,785 32,420,458
1997 4,253,716 31,578,089
1996 4,199,210 30,945,762
1995 4,179,179 30,383,497
1994 4,173,105 29,442,356
1993 4,157,130 28,332,692
1992 4,166,366 27,457,588
1991 4,246,267 26,780,436
1990 4,196,828 26,110,207
1989 4,034,037 25,438,759
1988 3,934,517 24,769,686
1987 3,829,718 24,030,378
1986 3,728,380 23,258,959
1985 3,638,438 22,501,693
1984 3,558,758 21,779,066
1983 3,481,646 21,079,874
1982 3,408,183 20,398,571
1981 3,338,940 19,784,703
1980 3,272,089 19,189,769
1979 3,207,499 18,592,038
1978 3,145,517 17,976,566
1977 3,085,354 17,352,929
1976 3,028,820 16,736,211
1975 2,974,657 16,138,361
1974 2,920,459 15,561,630
1973 2,866,955 15,010,101
1972 2,814,388 14,479,308
1971 2,763,222 13,971,451
1970 2,712,286 13,492,677
1969 2,661,365 13,036,700
1968 2,611,532 12,602,076
1967 2,562,384 12,200,109
1966 2,514,638 11,827,459
1965 2,468,666 11,470,728
1964 2,424,390 11,127,826
1963 2,382,258 10,799,528
1962 2,342,242 10,487,756
1961 2,304,227 10,187,886
1960 2,268,356 9,901,419

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Tanzania gained 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Tanzania was ranked 30th in 2006 and ranked 20th 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 Tanzania will increase by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people and rank change from 20th to 15th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 265M people in 2100 for Tanzania.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2100 -0.09% 0.89%
2099 -0.08% 0.9%
2098 -0.09% 0.93%
2097 -0.07% 0.94%
2096 -0.05% 0.96%
2095 0.002% 0.97%
2094 -0.03% 1%
2093 0.02% 1.02%
2092 0.04% 1.05%
2091 0.06% 1.06%
2090 0.07% 1.08%
2089 0.09% 1.11%
2088 0.1% 1.13%
2087 0.17% 1.16%
2086 0.13% 1.18%
2085 0.15% 1.19%
2084 0.21% 1.21%
2083 0.23% 1.23%
2082 0.25% 1.25%
2081 0.24% 1.28%
2080 0.26% 1.31%
2079 0.31% 1.33%
2078 0.32% 1.35%
2077 0.35% 1.38%
2076 0.38% 1.4%
2075 0.35% 1.43%
2074 0.44% 1.45%
2073 0.45% 1.47%
2072 0.47% 1.5%
2071 0.51% 1.53%
2070 0.53% 1.55%
2069 0.59% 1.57%
2068 0.64% 1.6%
2067 0.65% 1.62%
2066 0.66% 1.68%
2065 0.66% 1.69%
2064 0.67% 1.71%
2063 0.77% 1.74%
2062 0.73% 1.76%
2061 0.79% 1.78%
2060 0.79% 1.81%
2059 0.84% 1.84%
2058 0.86% 1.87%
2057 0.9% 1.92%
2056 0.95% 1.94%
2055 0.93% 1.95%
2054 1.01% 1.97%
2053 1.06% 2%
2052 1.12% 2.03%
2051 1.12% 2.07%
2050 1.11% 2.09%
2049 1.19% 2.14%
2048 1.16% 2.18%
2047 1.26% 2.21%
2046 1.28% 2.23%
2045 1.37% 2.26%
2044 1.35% 2.28%
2043 1.37% 2.32%
2042 1.44% 2.34%
2041 1.5% 2.37%
2040 1.5% 2.41%
2039 1.47% 2.45%
2038 1.54% 2.47%
2037 1.59% 2.52%
2036 1.65% 2.54%
2035 1.65% 2.59%
2034 1.69% 2.59%
2033 1.78% 2.63%
2032 1.81% 2.68%
2031 1.81% 2.7%
2030 1.85% 2.74%
2029 1.83% 2.75%
2028 1.97% 2.79%
2027 1.98% 2.83%
2026 2.03% 2.89%
2025 2.08% 2.91%
2024 2.15% 2.92%
2023 2.22% 2.95%
2022 2.25% 2.99%
2021 2.3% 3.05%
2020 2.34% 3.04%
2019 2.35% 3.03%
2018 2.38% 3.21%
2017 2.41% 3.4%
2016 2.38% 3.47%
2015 2.35% 3.32%
2014 2.42% 3.13%
2013 2.49% 3.06%
2012 2.56% 2.92%
2011 2.64% 2.84%
2010 2.76% 2.58%
2009 2.73% 2.5%
2008 2.53% 2.74%
2007 2.22% 2.83%
2006 2.23% 2.84%
2005 2.73% 2.81%
2004 3.44% 2.75%
2003 4.15% 2.68%
2002 5.94% 2.62%
2001 6.08% 2.74%
2000 2.44% 2.88%
1999 0.52% 2.71%
1998 0.99% 2.67%
1997 1.3% 2.04%
1996 0.48% 1.85%
1995 0.15% 3.2%
1994 0.38% 3.92%
1993 -0.22% 3.19%
1992 -1.88% 2.53%
1991 1.18% 2.57%
1990 4.04% 2.64%
1989 2.53% 2.7%
1988 2.74% 3.08%
1987 2.72% 3.32%
1986 2.47% 3.37%
1985 2.24% 3.32%
1984 2.21% 3.32%
1983 2.16% 3.34%
1982 2.07% 3.1%
1981 2.04% 3.1%
1980 2.01% 3.21%
1979 1.97% 3.42%
1978 1.95% 3.59%
1977 1.87% 3.68%
1976 1.82% 3.7%
1975 1.86% 3.71%
1974 1.87% 3.67%
1973 1.87% 3.67%
1972 1.85% 3.63%
1971 1.88% 3.55%
1970 1.91% 3.5%
1969 1.91% 3.45%
1968 1.92% 3.29%
1967 1.9% 3.15%
1966 1.86% 3.11%
1965 1.83% 3.08%
1964 1.77% 3.04%
1963 1.71% 2.97%
1962 1.65% 2.94%
1961 1.58% 2.89%

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/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.92%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Tanzania
Current population
9049533
73145892
Population rank 101/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.88%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
16.2 seconds
One birth every
2.03 minutes
13.4 seconds
One death every
7.5 minutes
1.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +5,322
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +1,942,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +2.92%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 18/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
41.4 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 -12,730
Net migration rank 136/196 139/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 462,371
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 83/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 167/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Tanzania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Tanzania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - -12,730
2024 - -11,000 - -29,865
2023 188,788 -4,000 1,960,623 -39,388
2022 186,625 -4,000 1,927,960 -37,557
2021 183,326 -1,544 1,880,137 -7,704
2020 181,015 1,292 1,861,377 -18,587
2019 181,068 -2,238 1,816,669 -63,602
2018 178,772 -2,741 1,777,852 -55,444
2017 173,259 1,234 1,726,909 119,142
2016 168,784 4,657 1,659,502 152,194
2015 162,275 -356 1,592,882 201,495
2014 160,137 485 1,565,630 -21,083
2013 161,265 2,773 1,509,008 1,241
2012 160,915 988 1,439,325 -49,875
2011 158,858 6,895 1,384,886 -84,546
2010 155,338 7,983 1,363,477 -122,020
2009 152,669 18,145 1,332,015 -324,478
2008 149,855 1,182 1,303,728 -184,816
2007 145,740 -6,042 1,278,285 -126,793
2006 144,127 -34,052 1,257,927 -128,231
2005 137,234 -1,805 1,224,165 -128,251
2004 132,661 23,897 1,175,379 -126,490
2003 130,312 69,185 1,118,435 -127,101
2002 126,429 86,578 1,063,195 -118,047
2001 116,647 227,791 1,026,242 -125,375
2000 110,754 83,013 985,185 -9,701
1999 102,295 -84,926 948,659 -4,489
1998 103,906 -76,766 920,806 -105,184
1997 105,433 -48,437 882,544 -13,400
1996 104,140 -52,110 868,524 -473,007
1995 100,885 -112,857 838,980 -109,971
1994 101,486 -77,371 803,953 349,348
1993 103,317 -95,476 778,044 288,004
1992 103,251 -129,565 767,961 -83,825
1991 105,477 -238,965 762,011 -91,851
1990 100,778 131,587 750,825 -80,529
1989 98,298 -5,079 743,854 -71,268
1988 96,344 9,470 736,551 -71,012
1987 94,235 9,558 718,580 94,498
1986 90,902 7,992 705,677 24,101
1985 88,869 -7,873 697,867 86,864
1984 87,072 -8,708 687,435 -26,938
1983 84,628 -8,783 679,720 58,161
1982 82,457 -11,379 662,627 -37,883
1981 80,111 -12,699 645,496 -42,485
1980 77,932 -11,641 629,444 -42,588
1979 75,992 -13,095 613,388 -4,792
1978 74,130 -13,073 595,024 27,307
1977 71,663 -12,399 574,938 49,997
1976 69,506 -15,686 553,617 54,875
1975 67,560 -13,058 533,906 53,290
1974 65,357 -11,473 515,152 51,127
1973 62,443 -9,322 488,429 48,363
1972 60,279 -8,267 467,305 57,489
1971 58,484 -8,162 449,014 41,900
1970 56,513 -4,957 427,988 38,635
1969 54,768 -4,485 408,322 37,006
1968 53,126 -3,743 389,467 34,455
1967 51,734 -2,819 374,763 5,265
1966 49,486 -2,911 360,229 5,049
1965 47,223 -1,851 343,456 4,742
1964 45,487 -2,308 328,527 9,090
1963 43,569 -2,480 314,644 4,333
1962 41,603 -2,658 300,663 3,916
1961 40,022 -2,947 286,839 8,338
1960 38,192 -3,528 275,814 1,946

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 462,371 people or 0.7% in Tanzania.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K

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/tanzania | 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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