Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 7.91 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 0.97% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Thailand
2100 16,111,324 45,712,111
2099 16,126,181 46,056,854
2098 16,139,280 46,406,925
2097 16,154,153 46,761,683
2096 16,164,923 47,122,446
2095 16,173,557 47,487,866
2094 16,173,155 47,857,414
2093 16,177,864 48,230,566
2092 16,175,032 48,609,149
2091 16,168,153 48,988,448
2090 16,158,415 49,372,024
2089 16,146,773 49,760,635
2088 16,133,018 50,146,313
2087 16,116,823 50,536,233
2086 16,089,780 50,929,394
2085 16,068,438 51,326,092
2084 16,044,782 51,728,619
2083 16,011,134 52,131,789
2082 15,975,073 52,537,598
2081 15,935,071 52,942,608
2080 15,896,846 53,352,029
2079 15,854,898 53,766,821
2078 15,805,607 54,181,891
2077 15,754,551 54,599,508
2076 15,699,439 55,019,721
2075 15,639,458 55,442,571
2074 15,584,377 55,872,412
2073 15,516,736 56,304,891
2072 15,446,543 56,739,842
2071 15,374,790 57,177,118
2070 15,297,449 57,621,370
2069 15,216,666 58,066,637
2068 15,128,048 58,516,959
2067 15,032,144 58,967,738
2066 14,935,222 59,418,676
2065 14,837,697 59,878,082
2064 14,740,749 60,336,709
2063 14,642,031 60,797,201
2062 14,529,557 61,262,000
2061 14,423,861 61,724,999
2060 14,311,215 62,192,387
2059 14,198,706 62,656,203
2058 14,080,827 63,118,413
2057 13,960,869 63,577,864
2056 13,836,132 64,032,675
2055 13,706,113 64,478,337
2054 13,579,802 64,917,436
2053 13,444,465 65,343,383
2052 13,303,409 65,763,356
2051 13,156,370 66,167,939
2050 13,010,109 66,558,274
2049 12,867,021 66,936,876
2048 12,716,015 67,296,897
2047 12,570,250 67,641,907
2046 12,414,307 67,972,603
2045 12,257,874 68,287,399
2044 12,092,075 68,585,177
2043 11,931,531 68,870,333
2042 11,770,467 69,139,548
2041 11,602,993 69,396,419
2040 11,431,337 69,632,464
2039 11,262,807 69,854,146
2038 11,100,099 70,062,543
2037 10,931,629 70,256,027
2036 10,760,758 70,435,348
2035 10,585,702 70,604,705
2034 10,413,826 70,756,791
2033 10,241,196 70,897,217
2032 10,062,575 71,025,384
2031 9,883,708 71,140,609
2030 9,708,038 71,247,320
2029 9,532,000 71,342,891
2028 9,360,873 71,428,869
2027 9,179,702 71,505,168
2026 9,001,269 71,571,743
2025 8,822,114 71,625,629
2024 8,642,022 71,668,011
2023 8,460,512 71,702,435
2022 8,276,807 71,735,329
2021 8,094,602 71,727,332
2020 7,912,558 71,641,484
2019 7,731,991 71,522,271
2018 7,554,563 71,376,079
2017 7,379,299 71,160,187
2016 7,205,328 70,859,841
2015 7,037,655 70,540,795
2014 6,876,385 70,216,367
2013 6,714,051 69,845,114
2012 6,551,080 69,436,098
2011 6,387,251 69,007,208
2010 6,222,714 68,579,447
2009 6,055,646 68,121,080
2008 5,894,722 67,619,830
2007 5,749,352 67,102,394
2006 5,624,466 66,567,687
2005 5,501,712 66,017,420
2004 5,355,717 65,452,047
2003 5,177,687 64,868,166
2002 4,971,435 64,266,437
2001 4,692,716 63,651,141
2000 4,423,611 63,007,815
1999 4,318,043 62,299,043
1998 4,295,785 61,522,630
1997 4,253,716 60,724,584
1996 4,199,210 59,920,064
1995 4,179,179 59,098,232
1994 4,173,105 58,260,854
1993 4,157,130 57,408,198
1992 4,166,366 56,528,834
1991 4,246,267 55,637,434
1990 4,196,828 54,738,329
1989 4,034,037 53,848,956
1988 3,934,517 52,969,595
1987 3,829,718 52,074,105
1986 3,728,380 51,177,834
1985 3,638,438 50,270,753
1984 3,558,758 49,351,708
1983 3,481,646 48,423,309
1982 3,408,183 47,494,577
1981 3,338,940 46,575,855
1980 3,272,089 45,650,022
1979 3,207,499 44,718,434
1978 3,145,517 43,788,976
1977 3,085,354 42,843,974
1976 3,028,820 41,896,504
1975 2,974,657 40,940,005
1974 2,920,459 39,952,891
1973 2,866,955 38,947,787
1972 2,814,388 37,933,929
1971 2,763,222 36,937,387
1970 2,712,286 35,954,408
1969 2,661,365 34,973,782
1968 2,611,532 34,002,560
1967 2,562,384 33,037,801
1966 2,514,638 32,086,071
1965 2,468,666 31,149,337
1964 2,424,390 30,232,141
1963 2,382,258 29,342,322
1962 2,342,242 28,481,040
1961 2,304,227 27,650,334
1960 2,268,356 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Thailand
2100 -0.09% -0.75%
2099 -0.08% -0.75%
2098 -0.09% -0.76%
2097 -0.07% -0.77%
2096 -0.05% -0.77%
2095 0.002% -0.77%
2094 -0.03% -0.77%
2093 0.02% -0.78%
2092 0.04% -0.77%
2091 0.06% -0.78%
2090 0.07% -0.78%
2089 0.09% -0.77%
2088 0.1% -0.77%
2087 0.17% -0.77%
2086 0.13% -0.77%
2085 0.15% -0.78%
2084 0.21% -0.77%
2083 0.23% -0.77%
2082 0.25% -0.76%
2081 0.24% -0.77%
2080 0.26% -0.77%
2079 0.31% -0.77%
2078 0.32% -0.76%
2077 0.35% -0.76%
2076 0.38% -0.76%
2075 0.35% -0.77%
2074 0.44% -0.77%
2073 0.45% -0.77%
2072 0.47% -0.76%
2071 0.51% -0.77%
2070 0.53% -0.77%
2069 0.59% -0.77%
2068 0.64% -0.76%
2067 0.65% -0.76%
2066 0.66% -0.77%
2065 0.66% -0.76%
2064 0.67% -0.76%
2063 0.77% -0.76%
2062 0.73% -0.75%
2061 0.79% -0.75%
2060 0.79% -0.74%
2059 0.84% -0.73%
2058 0.86% -0.72%
2057 0.9% -0.71%
2056 0.95% -0.69%
2055 0.93% -0.68%
2054 1.01% -0.65%
2053 1.06% -0.64%
2052 1.12% -0.61%
2051 1.12% -0.59%
2050 1.11% -0.57%
2049 1.19% -0.53%
2048 1.16% -0.51%
2047 1.26% -0.49%
2046 1.28% -0.46%
2045 1.37% -0.43%
2044 1.35% -0.41%
2043 1.37% -0.39%
2042 1.44% -0.37%
2041 1.5% -0.34%
2040 1.5% -0.32%
2039 1.47% -0.3%
2038 1.54% -0.28%
2037 1.59% -0.25%
2036 1.65% -0.24%
2035 1.65% -0.21%
2034 1.69% -0.2%
2033 1.78% -0.18%
2032 1.81% -0.16%
2031 1.81% -0.15%
2030 1.85% -0.13%
2029 1.83% -0.12%
2028 1.97% -0.11%
2027 1.98% -0.09%
2026 2.03% -0.08%
2025 2.08% -0.06%
2024 2.15% -0.05%
2023 2.22% -0.05%
2022 2.25% 0.01%
2021 2.3% 0.12%
2020 2.34% 0.17%
2019 2.35% 0.2%
2018 2.38% 0.3%
2017 2.41% 0.42%
2016 2.38% 0.45%
2015 2.35% 0.46%
2014 2.42% 0.53%
2013 2.49% 0.59%
2012 2.56% 0.62%
2011 2.64% 0.62%
2010 2.76% 0.67%
2009 2.73% 0.74%
2008 2.53% 0.77%
2007 2.22% 0.8%
2006 2.23% 0.83%
2005 2.73% 0.86%
2004 3.44% 0.9%
2003 4.15% 0.94%
2002 5.94% 0.97%
2001 6.08% 1.02%
2000 2.44% 1.14%
1999 0.52% 1.26%
1998 0.99% 1.31%
1997 1.3% 1.34%
1996 0.48% 1.39%
1995 0.15% 1.44%
1994 0.38% 1.49%
1993 -0.22% 1.56%
1992 -1.88% 1.6%
1991 1.18% 1.64%
1990 4.04% 1.65%
1989 2.53% 1.66%
1988 2.74% 1.72%
1987 2.72% 1.75%
1986 2.47% 1.8%
1985 2.24% 1.86%
1984 2.21% 1.92%
1983 2.16% 1.96%
1982 2.07% 1.97%
1981 2.04% 2.03%
1980 2.01% 2.08%
1979 1.97% 2.12%
1978 1.95% 2.21%
1977 1.87% 2.26%
1976 1.82% 2.34%
1975 1.86% 2.47%
1974 1.87% 2.58%
1973 1.87% 2.67%
1972 1.85% 2.7%
1971 1.88% 2.73%
1970 1.91% 2.8%
1969 1.91% 2.86%
1968 1.92% 2.92%
1967 1.9% 2.97%
1966 1.86% 3.01%
1965 1.83% 3.03%
1964 1.77% 3.03%
1963 1.71% 3.02%
1962 1.65% 3%
1961 1.58% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Thailand
Current population
9049533
71571743
Population rank 101/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.86%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
2.03 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
7.5 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +497 -94
Annual growth/decline +181,510 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 168/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 +27,509
Net migration rank 136/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 27,509
2024 - -11,000 - 23,321
2023 188,788 -4,000 -46,105 19,648
2022 186,625 -4,000 -61,046 21,683
2021 183,326 -1,544 57,382 -2,093
2020 181,015 1,292 84,107 32,277
2019 181,068 -2,238 116,867 5,221
2018 178,772 -2,741 159,383 10,984
2017 173,259 1,234 194,695 66,805
2016 168,784 4,657 226,255 112,978
2015 162,275 -356 266,362 32,500
2014 160,137 485 294,628 55,358
2013 161,265 2,773 325,059 67,452
2012 160,915 988 351,485 74,033
2011 158,858 6,895 365,670 66,607
2010 155,338 7,983 370,466 52,791
2009 152,669 18,145 382,636 110,883
2008 149,855 1,182 401,730 107,333
2007 145,740 -6,042 425,362 100,486
2006 144,127 -34,052 441,211 102,362
2005 137,234 -1,805 456,378 100,542
2004 132,661 23,897 466,542 107,199
2003 130,312 69,185 488,003 105,917
2002 126,429 86,578 504,299 105,215
2001 116,647 227,791 524,230 96,817
2000 110,754 83,013 543,884 121,640
1999 102,295 -84,926 578,073 173,924
1998 103,906 -76,766 617,318 183,471
1997 105,433 -48,437 644,834 150,411
1996 104,140 -52,110 661,397 152,397
1995 100,885 -112,857 682,703 147,226
1994 101,486 -77,371 712,589 132,271
1993 103,317 -95,476 737,696 122,746
1992 103,251 -129,565 754,999 143,318
1991 105,477 -238,965 760,508 124,034
1990 100,778 131,587 760,808 152,916
1989 98,298 -5,079 774,563 90,497
1988 96,344 9,470 765,252 128,469
1987 94,235 9,558 774,498 122,791
1986 90,902 7,992 783,430 111,820
1985 88,869 -7,873 776,935 141,963
1984 87,072 -8,708 779,856 139,345
1983 84,628 -8,783 794,239 143,393
1982 82,457 -11,379 817,951 101,885
1981 80,111 -12,699 839,297 78,337
1980 77,932 -11,641 845,575 88,478
1979 75,992 -13,095 843,434 85,693
1978 74,130 -13,073 847,799 82,011
1977 71,663 -12,399 871,232 88,937
1976 69,506 -15,686 894,072 40,656
1975 67,560 -13,058 911,980 66,306
1974 65,357 -11,473 923,151 72,801
1973 62,443 -9,322 933,540 80,704
1972 60,279 -8,267 940,420 73,082
1971 58,484 -8,162 936,215 43,400
1970 56,513 -4,957 937,116 49,221
1969 54,768 -4,485 948,314 26,551
1968 53,126 -3,743 953,806 13,718
1967 51,734 -2,819 944,980 17,005
1966 49,486 -2,911 929,469 12,016
1965 47,223 -1,851 909,000 22,995
1964 45,487 -2,308 885,137 17,249
1963 43,569 -2,480 860,728 16,494
1962 41,603 -2,658 828,741 16,605
1961 40,022 -2,947 801,140 14,968
1960 38,192 -3,528 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.