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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,819,794 in 2025 vs 70,545,865 people in Tanzania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,090,531 people compared to 73,639,263 in Tanzania.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 8.1 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 100th most populous country in the world, while Tanzania is the 20th.
  • The countries together account for 1% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.89% for Tanzania.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.29% per year vs +3.11% in Tanzania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.09M (61.6% growth), while Tanzania has grown from 40.3M to 73.6M (82.8% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Tanzania: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Tanzania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2100 16,107,087 265,471,550
2099 16,121,940 263,137,702
2098 16,135,035 260,784,676
2097 16,149,905 258,387,890
2096 16,160,672 255,972,277
2095 16,169,304 253,543,248
2094 16,168,902 251,095,452
2093 16,173,609 248,605,184
2092 16,170,778 246,083,651
2091 16,163,901 243,533,968
2090 16,154,165 240,979,094
2089 16,142,526 238,393,867
2088 16,128,775 235,775,056
2087 16,112,585 233,145,231
2086 16,085,549 230,474,072
2085 16,064,212 227,778,580
2084 16,040,563 225,090,075
2083 16,006,923 222,400,079
2082 15,970,872 219,697,321
2081 15,930,880 216,974,796
2080 15,892,665 214,235,505
2079 15,850,728 211,466,096
2078 15,801,450 208,688,171
2077 15,750,408 205,898,494
2076 15,695,310 203,086,766
2075 15,635,345 200,278,383
2074 15,580,279 197,449,196
2073 15,512,655 194,624,081
2072 15,442,481 191,805,820
2071 15,370,747 188,974,004
2070 15,293,426 186,134,634
2069 15,212,664 183,293,747
2068 15,124,069 180,458,385
2067 15,028,190 177,622,538
2066 14,931,295 174,786,430
2065 14,833,794 171,897,059
2064 14,736,872 169,048,435
2063 14,638,180 166,202,091
2062 14,525,736 163,354,473
2061 14,420,068 160,521,858
2060 14,307,451 157,707,240
2059 14,194,972 154,905,240
2058 14,077,124 152,106,040
2057 13,957,197 149,311,257
2056 13,832,494 146,505,507
2055 13,702,508 143,722,840
2054 13,576,231 140,970,467
2053 13,440,929 138,249,490
2052 13,299,910 135,540,803
2051 13,152,910 132,838,721
2050 13,006,688 130,145,345
2049 12,863,637 127,483,126
2048 12,712,671 124,809,212
2047 12,566,944 122,146,647
2046 12,411,042 119,511,124
2045 12,254,651 116,903,642
2044 12,088,895 114,318,843
2043 11,928,393 111,765,580
2042 11,767,372 109,231,423
2041 11,599,942 106,738,458
2040 11,428,331 104,262,479
2039 11,259,845 101,804,600
2038 11,097,180 99,370,760
2037 10,928,754 96,974,485
2036 10,757,928 94,592,848
2035 10,582,918 92,248,476
2034 10,411,088 89,920,872
2033 10,238,503 87,646,627
2032 10,059,929 85,401,853
2031 9,881,109 83,172,579
2030 9,705,485 80,989,443
2029 9,529,493 78,830,947
2028 9,358,412 76,723,335
2027 9,177,288 74,639,948
2026 8,998,902 72,582,361
2025 8,819,794 70,545,865
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth), while Tanzania's population increased by 19,815,250 people (a 36.8% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 100th 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 43.1% to 13,006,688 people with a rank change from 100th to 91st. The population of Tanzania will increase by 76.7% to 130,145,345 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 2.06% 2.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.06%, while Tanzania's population grew by 2.9%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Tanzania
Current population
9090531
73639263
Population rank 100/197 20/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.89%
One net population change
2.96 minutes
15.9 seconds
One birth every
2.02 minutes
13.2 seconds
One death every
7.41 minutes
1.34 minutes
Daily growth/decline +487 +5,440
Annual growth/decline +177,772 +1,985,708
Annual growth/decline rate +2.06% +2.9%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 16/197
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 189,234 -11,000 1,993,730 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/tanzania | 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 Tanzania 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,197,641 people) and 1.2% is from migration (a gain of 220,684 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
Morogoro 471K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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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