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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 50,015,092 people in Uganda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 53,170,946 in Uganda.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 5.88 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Uganda is the 30th.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.64% for Uganda.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +3.21% in Uganda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Uganda has grown from 28.8M to 53.2M (84.7% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Uganda: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Uganda
2100 16,111,324 122,497,526
2099 16,126,181 122,436,109
2098 16,139,280 122,364,302
2097 16,154,153 122,266,255
2096 16,164,923 122,146,810
2095 16,173,557 121,976,411
2094 16,173,155 121,799,752
2093 16,177,864 121,584,860
2092 16,175,032 121,336,796
2091 16,168,153 121,070,447
2090 16,158,415 120,767,412
2089 16,146,773 120,427,771
2088 16,133,018 120,064,594
2087 16,116,823 119,668,549
2086 16,089,780 119,256,686
2085 16,068,438 118,815,763
2084 16,044,782 118,339,179
2083 16,011,134 117,821,938
2082 15,975,073 117,274,958
2081 15,935,071 116,707,394
2080 15,896,846 116,096,095
2079 15,854,898 115,474,153
2078 15,805,607 114,805,376
2077 15,754,551 114,118,687
2076 15,699,439 113,390,189
2075 15,639,458 112,637,851
2074 15,584,377 111,863,410
2073 15,516,736 111,070,771
2072 15,446,543 110,240,940
2071 15,374,790 109,392,890
2070 15,297,449 108,505,633
2069 15,216,666 107,607,659
2068 15,128,048 106,677,578
2067 15,032,144 105,722,829
2066 14,935,222 104,739,111
2065 14,837,697 103,737,893
2064 14,740,749 102,701,560
2063 14,642,031 101,646,533
2062 14,529,557 100,561,859
2061 14,423,861 99,450,764
2060 14,311,215 98,334,788
2059 14,198,706 97,187,498
2058 14,080,827 96,014,439
2057 13,960,869 94,821,765
2056 13,836,132 93,613,209
2055 13,706,113 92,385,049
2054 13,579,802 91,132,827
2053 13,444,465 89,857,705
2052 13,303,409 88,568,311
2051 13,156,370 87,270,603
2050 13,010,109 85,957,376
2049 12,867,021 84,632,277
2048 12,716,015 83,284,965
2047 12,570,250 81,928,165
2046 12,414,307 80,569,225
2045 12,257,874 79,208,662
2044 12,092,075 77,834,944
2043 11,931,531 76,453,982
2042 11,770,467 75,075,287
2041 11,602,993 73,701,695
2040 11,431,337 72,333,375
2039 11,262,807 70,963,211
2038 11,100,099 69,580,447
2037 10,931,629 68,186,136
2036 10,760,758 66,804,746
2035 10,585,702 65,411,934
2034 10,413,826 64,023,352
2033 10,241,196 62,634,483
2032 10,062,575 61,235,174
2031 9,883,708 59,825,075
2030 9,708,038 58,415,479
2029 9,532,000 57,006,283
2028 9,360,873 55,596,520
2027 9,179,702 54,191,271
2026 9,001,269 52,792,624
2025 8,822,114 51,400,003
2024 8,642,022 50,015,092
2023 8,460,512 48,656,601
2022 8,276,807 47,312,719
2021 8,094,602 45,910,930
2020 7,912,558 44,457,152
2019 7,731,991 42,999,637
2018 7,554,563 41,565,831
2017 7,379,299 40,177,388
2016 7,205,328 38,799,152
2015 7,037,655 37,531,446
2014 6,876,385 36,395,539
2013 6,714,051 35,337,042
2012 6,551,080 34,337,438
2011 6,387,251 33,354,543
2010 6,222,714 32,390,802
2009 6,055,646 31,451,151
2008 5,894,722 30,539,553
2007 5,749,352 29,653,430
2006 5,624,466 28,794,003
2005 5,501,712 27,963,289
2004 5,355,717 27,154,515
2003 5,177,687 26,352,124
2002 4,971,435 25,532,870
2001 4,692,716 24,745,676
2000 4,423,611 24,000,150
1999 4,318,043 23,257,281
1998 4,295,785 22,515,806
1997 4,253,716 21,856,046
1996 4,199,210 21,231,550
1995 4,179,179 20,665,667
1994 4,173,105 20,108,801
1993 4,157,130 19,445,161
1992 4,166,366 18,785,032
1991 4,246,267 18,155,901
1990 4,196,828 17,569,897
1989 4,034,037 17,010,698
1988 3,934,517 16,470,483
1987 3,829,718 15,954,170
1986 3,728,380 15,467,579
1985 3,638,438 15,023,681
1984 3,558,758 14,607,677
1983 3,481,646 14,221,881
1982 3,408,183 13,873,631
1981 3,338,940 13,556,452
1980 3,272,089 13,275,741
1979 3,207,499 13,002,163
1978 3,145,517 12,692,113
1977 3,085,354 12,359,669
1976 3,028,820 12,037,294
1975 2,974,657 11,725,240
1974 2,920,459 11,424,846
1973 2,866,955 11,144,236
1972 2,814,388 10,885,796
1971 2,763,222 10,618,206
1970 2,712,286 10,321,603
1969 2,661,365 10,014,858
1968 2,611,532 9,708,632
1967 2,562,384 9,408,924
1966 2,514,638 9,122,864
1965 2,468,666 8,849,203
1964 2,424,390 8,586,363
1963 2,382,258 8,333,663
1962 2,342,242 8,092,231
1961 2,304,227 7,862,217
1960 2,268,356 7,640,973

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/uganda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Uganda gained 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Uganda's population increased by 14,371,794 people (a 37% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Uganda was ranked 38th in 2006 and ranked 30th 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 Uganda will increase by 61.7% to 85,957,376 people and rank change from 30th to 20th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 122M people in 2100 for Uganda.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Uganda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Uganda
2100 -0.09% 0.05%
2099 -0.08% 0.06%
2098 -0.09% 0.08%
2097 -0.07% 0.1%
2096 -0.05% 0.14%
2095 0.002% 0.15%
2094 -0.03% 0.18%
2093 0.02% 0.2%
2092 0.04% 0.22%
2091 0.06% 0.25%
2090 0.07% 0.28%
2089 0.09% 0.3%
2088 0.1% 0.33%
2087 0.17% 0.35%
2086 0.13% 0.37%
2085 0.15% 0.4%
2084 0.21% 0.44%
2083 0.23% 0.47%
2082 0.25% 0.49%
2081 0.24% 0.53%
2080 0.26% 0.54%
2079 0.31% 0.58%
2078 0.32% 0.6%
2077 0.35% 0.64%
2076 0.38% 0.67%
2075 0.35% 0.69%
2074 0.44% 0.71%
2073 0.45% 0.75%
2072 0.47% 0.78%
2071 0.51% 0.82%
2070 0.53% 0.83%
2069 0.59% 0.87%
2068 0.64% 0.9%
2067 0.65% 0.94%
2066 0.66% 0.97%
2065 0.66% 1.01%
2064 0.67% 1.04%
2063 0.77% 1.08%
2062 0.73% 1.12%
2061 0.79% 1.13%
2060 0.79% 1.18%
2059 0.84% 1.22%
2058 0.86% 1.26%
2057 0.9% 1.29%
2056 0.95% 1.33%
2055 0.93% 1.37%
2054 1.01% 1.42%
2053 1.06% 1.46%
2052 1.12% 1.49%
2051 1.12% 1.53%
2050 1.11% 1.57%
2049 1.19% 1.62%
2048 1.16% 1.66%
2047 1.26% 1.69%
2046 1.28% 1.72%
2045 1.37% 1.76%
2044 1.35% 1.81%
2043 1.37% 1.84%
2042 1.44% 1.86%
2041 1.5% 1.89%
2040 1.5% 1.93%
2039 1.47% 1.99%
2038 1.54% 2.04%
2037 1.59% 2.07%
2036 1.65% 2.13%
2035 1.65% 2.17%
2034 1.69% 2.22%
2033 1.78% 2.29%
2032 1.81% 2.36%
2031 1.81% 2.41%
2030 1.85% 2.47%
2029 1.83% 2.54%
2028 1.97% 2.59%
2027 1.98% 2.65%
2026 2.03% 2.71%
2025 2.08% 2.77%
2024 2.15% 2.79%
2023 2.22% 2.84%
2022 2.25% 3.05%
2021 2.3% 3.27%
2020 2.34% 3.39%
2019 2.35% 3.45%
2018 2.38% 3.46%
2017 2.41% 3.55%
2016 2.38% 3.38%
2015 2.35% 3.12%
2014 2.42% 3%
2013 2.49% 2.91%
2012 2.56% 2.95%
2011 2.64% 2.98%
2010 2.76% 2.99%
2009 2.73% 2.98%
2008 2.53% 2.99%
2007 2.22% 2.98%
2006 2.23% 2.97%
2005 2.73% 2.98%
2004 3.44% 3.04%
2003 4.15% 3.21%
2002 5.94% 3.18%
2001 6.08% 3.11%
2000 2.44% 3.19%
1999 0.52% 3.29%
1998 0.99% 3.02%
1997 1.3% 2.94%
1996 0.48% 2.74%
1995 0.15% 2.77%
1994 0.38% 3.41%
1993 -0.22% 3.51%
1992 -1.88% 3.47%
1991 1.18% 3.34%
1990 4.04% 3.29%
1989 2.53% 3.28%
1988 2.74% 3.24%
1987 2.72% 3.15%
1986 2.47% 2.95%
1985 2.24% 2.85%
1984 2.21% 2.71%
1983 2.16% 2.51%
1982 2.07% 2.34%
1981 2.04% 2.11%
1980 2.01% 2.1%
1979 1.97% 2.44%
1978 1.95% 2.69%
1977 1.87% 2.68%
1976 1.82% 2.66%
1975 1.86% 2.63%
1974 1.87% 2.52%
1973 1.87% 2.37%
1972 1.85% 2.52%
1971 1.88% 2.87%
1970 1.91% 3.06%
1969 1.91% 3.15%
1968 1.92% 3.19%
1967 1.9% 3.14%
1966 1.86% 3.09%
1965 1.83% 3.06%
1964 1.77% 3.03%
1963 1.71% 2.98%
1962 1.65% 2.93%
1961 1.58% 2.9%

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/uganda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Uganda's population grew by 2.79%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Uganda
Current population
9049533
53170946
Population rank 101/197 30/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.64%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
23.2 seconds
One birth every
2.03 minutes
18.4 seconds
One death every
7.5 minutes
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +3,722
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +1,358,491
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +2.79%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 22/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
4.43 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 -119,059
Net migration rank 136/196 183/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 2,057,759
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 37/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 106/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Uganda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Uganda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - -119,059
2024 - -11,000 - -117,924
2023 188,788 -4,000 1,477,166 -126,181
2022 186,625 -4,000 1,455,576 -118,843
2021 183,326 -1,544 1,423,377 43,464
2020 181,015 1,292 1,397,288 43,464
2019 181,068 -2,238 1,367,044 107,210
2018 178,772 -2,741 1,332,600 60,724
2017 173,259 1,234 1,290,658 92,879
2016 168,784 4,657 1,249,565 123,379
2015 162,275 -356 1,224,839 -62,366
2014 160,137 485 1,201,599 -92,273
2013 161,265 2,773 1,184,250 -176,579
2012 160,915 988 1,167,473 -175,936
2011 158,858 6,895 1,147,263 -173,005
2010 155,338 7,983 1,121,564 -168,322
2009 152,669 18,145 1,090,600 -164,553
2008 149,855 1,182 1,055,935 -158,790
2007 145,740 -6,042 1,029,893 -154,773
2006 144,127 -34,052 999,958 -156,232
2005 137,234 -1,805 969,096 -151,386
2004 132,661 23,897 938,623 -138,770
2003 130,312 69,185 901,374 -96,429
2002 126,429 86,578 868,756 -35,149
2001 116,647 227,791 836,751 -95,956
2000 110,754 83,013 803,069 -52,824
1999 102,295 -84,926 775,166 -39,695
1998 103,906 -76,766 741,175 6,277
1997 105,433 -48,437 727,523 -155,461
1996 104,140 -52,110 699,707 -22,795
1995 100,885 -112,857 697,218 -242,378
1994 101,486 -77,371 675,092 -16,198
1993 103,317 -95,476 650,032 18,349
1992 103,251 -129,565 627,139 24,723
1991 105,477 -238,965 602,740 3,643
1990 100,778 131,587 587,291 -21,688
1989 98,298 -5,079 565,367 -12,576
1988 96,344 9,470 547,759 -20,113
1987 94,235 9,558 527,397 -22,415
1986 90,902 7,992 487,693 -19,485
1985 88,869 -7,873 462,534 -42,942
1984 87,072 -8,708 421,241 -8,818
1983 84,628 -8,783 404,940 -45,776
1982 82,457 -11,379 390,820 -53,497
1981 80,111 -12,699 380,028 -83,010
1980 77,932 -11,641 370,287 -105,900
1979 75,992 -13,095 381,626 -98,863
1978 74,130 -13,073 371,930 -34,606
1977 71,663 -12,399 365,216 -37,671
1976 69,506 -15,686 359,458 -42,259
1975 67,560 -13,058 354,278 -47,359
1974 65,357 -11,473 345,773 -51,910
1973 62,443 -9,322 340,780 -73,439
1972 60,279 -8,267 335,935 -86,409
1971 58,484 -8,162 328,294 -42,642
1970 56,513 -4,957 333,202 -25,646
1969 54,768 -4,485 320,486 -14,548
1968 53,126 -3,743 309,725 -3,214
1967 51,734 -2,819 296,692 -3,773
1966 49,486 -2,911 282,225 -3,021
1965 47,223 -1,851 271,830 -3,716
1964 45,487 -2,308 260,733 -3,169
1963 43,569 -2,480 250,885 -3,058
1962 41,603 -2,658 241,513 -6,470
1961 40,022 -2,947 232,894 -7,893
1960 38,192 -3,528 225,080 -7,586

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

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/uganda | 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 Uganda 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 13,419,712 people) and 0.53% is from migration (a gain of 71,457 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 2,057,759 people or 4.1% in Uganda.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 101K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 41.9K

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/uganda | 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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