Skip to content

Population in Sierra Leone compared to the United States: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 38 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.26% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Sierra Leone vs United States: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone United States
2100 16,111,324 415,429,771
2099 16,126,181 414,829,167
2098 16,139,280 414,231,720
2097 16,154,153 413,576,381
2096 16,164,923 412,927,393
2095 16,173,557 412,225,379
2094 16,173,155 411,498,749
2093 16,177,864 410,785,729
2092 16,175,032 410,051,921
2091 16,168,153 409,320,183
2090 16,158,415 408,613,732
2089 16,146,773 407,885,645
2088 16,133,018 407,129,733
2087 16,116,823 406,421,298
2086 16,089,780 405,715,343
2085 16,068,438 405,059,379
2084 16,044,782 404,343,130
2083 16,011,134 403,612,785
2082 15,975,073 402,871,293
2081 15,935,071 402,054,554
2080 15,896,846 401,319,194
2079 15,854,898 400,554,914
2078 15,805,607 399,737,968
2077 15,754,551 398,906,565
2076 15,699,439 398,035,750
2075 15,639,458 397,109,170
2074 15,584,377 396,226,412
2073 15,516,736 395,307,725
2072 15,446,543 394,393,561
2071 15,374,790 393,415,363
2070 15,297,449 392,469,727
2069 15,216,666 391,479,981
2068 15,128,048 390,517,695
2067 15,032,144 389,543,856
2066 14,935,222 388,597,719
2065 14,837,697 387,685,327
2064 14,740,749 386,805,026
2063 14,642,031 385,911,917
2062 14,529,557 385,032,627
2061 14,423,861 384,170,837
2060 14,311,215 383,361,269
2059 14,198,706 382,542,030
2058 14,080,827 381,704,804
2057 13,960,869 380,907,023
2056 13,836,132 380,159,777
2055 13,706,113 379,430,756
2054 13,579,802 378,682,851
2053 13,444,465 377,878,421
2052 13,303,409 377,073,303
2051 13,156,370 376,229,840
2050 13,010,109 375,373,155
2049 12,867,021 374,493,150
2048 12,716,015 373,590,762
2047 12,570,250 372,626,259
2046 12,414,307 371,644,809
2045 12,257,874 370,602,914
2044 12,092,075 369,518,897
2043 11,931,531 368,375,680
2042 11,770,467 367,158,772
2041 11,602,993 365,937,822
2040 11,431,337 364,671,837
2039 11,262,807 363,367,337
2038 11,100,099 361,997,023
2037 10,931,629 360,606,236
2036 10,760,758 359,193,245
2035 10,585,702 357,750,686
2034 10,413,826 356,266,726
2033 10,241,196 354,775,032
2032 10,062,575 353,259,037
2031 9,883,708 351,721,511
2030 9,708,038 350,155,042
2029 9,532,000 348,564,667
2028 9,360,873 346,906,294
2027 9,179,702 345,257,605
2026 9,001,269 343,565,426
2025 8,822,114 341,784,857
2024 8,642,022 340,110,988
2023 8,460,512 334,914,895
2022 8,276,807 333,271,411
2021 8,094,602 331,893,745
2020 7,912,558 331,526,933
2019 7,731,991 328,329,953
2018 7,554,563 326,838,199
2017 7,379,299 325,122,128
2016 7,205,328 323,071,755
2015 7,037,655 320,738,994
2014 6,876,385 318,386,329
2013 6,714,051 316,059,947
2012 6,551,080 313,877,662
2011 6,387,251 311,583,481
2010 6,222,714 309,327,143
2009 6,055,646 306,771,529
2008 5,894,722 304,093,966
2007 5,749,352 301,231,207
2006 5,624,466 298,379,912
2005 5,501,712 295,516,599
2004 5,355,717 292,805,298
2003 5,177,687 290,107,933
2002 4,971,435 287,625,193
2001 4,692,716 284,968,955
2000 4,423,611 282,162,411
1999 4,318,043 279,294,713
1998 4,295,785 276,115,288
1997 4,253,716 272,911,760
1996 4,199,210 269,667,391
1995 4,179,179 266,557,091
1994 4,173,105 263,435,673
1993 4,157,130 260,255,352
1992 4,166,366 256,894,189
1991 4,246,267 253,492,503
1990 4,196,828 250,131,894
1989 4,034,037 246,819,222
1988 3,934,517 244,499,004
1987 3,829,718 242,288,936
1986 3,728,380 240,132,831
1985 3,638,438 237,923,734
1984 3,558,758 235,824,908
1983 3,481,646 233,792,014
1982 3,408,183 231,664,432
1981 3,338,940 229,465,744
1980 3,272,089 226,542,250
1979 3,207,499 225,055,487
1978 3,145,517 222,584,545
1977 3,085,354 220,239,425
1976 3,028,820 218,035,164
1975 2,974,657 215,973,199
1974 2,920,459 213,853,928
1973 2,866,955 211,908,788
1972 2,814,388 209,896,021
1971 2,763,222 207,660,677
1970 2,712,286 205,052,174
1969 2,661,365 202,676,946
1968 2,611,532 200,706,052
1967 2,562,384 198,712,056
1966 2,514,638 196,560,338
1965 2,468,666 194,302,963
1964 2,424,390 191,888,791
1963 2,382,258 189,241,798
1962 2,342,242 186,537,737
1961 2,304,227 183,691,481
1960 2,268,356 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 the United States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone United States
2100 -0.09% 0.14%
2099 -0.08% 0.14%
2098 -0.09% 0.16%
2097 -0.07% 0.16%
2096 -0.05% 0.17%
2095 0.002% 0.18%
2094 -0.03% 0.17%
2093 0.02% 0.18%
2092 0.04% 0.18%
2091 0.06% 0.17%
2090 0.07% 0.18%
2089 0.09% 0.19%
2088 0.1% 0.17%
2087 0.17% 0.17%
2086 0.13% 0.16%
2085 0.15% 0.18%
2084 0.21% 0.18%
2083 0.23% 0.18%
2082 0.25% 0.2%
2081 0.24% 0.18%
2080 0.26% 0.19%
2079 0.31% 0.2%
2078 0.32% 0.21%
2077 0.35% 0.22%
2076 0.38% 0.23%
2075 0.35% 0.22%
2074 0.44% 0.23%
2073 0.45% 0.23%
2072 0.47% 0.25%
2071 0.51% 0.24%
2070 0.53% 0.25%
2069 0.59% 0.25%
2068 0.64% 0.25%
2067 0.65% 0.24%
2066 0.66% 0.24%
2065 0.66% 0.23%
2064 0.67% 0.23%
2063 0.77% 0.23%
2062 0.73% 0.22%
2061 0.79% 0.21%
2060 0.79% 0.21%
2059 0.84% 0.22%
2058 0.86% 0.21%
2057 0.9% 0.2%
2056 0.95% 0.19%
2055 0.93% 0.2%
2054 1.01% 0.21%
2053 1.06% 0.21%
2052 1.12% 0.22%
2051 1.12% 0.23%
2050 1.11% 0.23%
2049 1.19% 0.24%
2048 1.16% 0.26%
2047 1.26% 0.26%
2046 1.28% 0.28%
2045 1.37% 0.29%
2044 1.35% 0.31%
2043 1.37% 0.33%
2042 1.44% 0.33%
2041 1.5% 0.35%
2040 1.5% 0.36%
2039 1.47% 0.38%
2038 1.54% 0.39%
2037 1.59% 0.39%
2036 1.65% 0.4%
2035 1.65% 0.42%
2034 1.69% 0.42%
2033 1.78% 0.43%
2032 1.81% 0.44%
2031 1.81% 0.45%
2030 1.85% 0.46%
2029 1.83% 0.48%
2028 1.97% 0.48%
2027 1.98% 0.49%
2026 2.03% 0.52%
2025 2.08% 0.49%
2024 2.15% 1.55%
2023 2.22% 0.49%
2022 2.25% 0.42%
2021 2.3% 0.11%
2020 2.34% 0.97%
2019 2.35% 0.46%
2018 2.38% 0.53%
2017 2.41% 0.63%
2016 2.38% 0.73%
2015 2.35% 0.74%
2014 2.42% 0.74%
2013 2.49% 0.7%
2012 2.56% 0.74%
2011 2.64% 0.73%
2010 2.76% 0.83%
2009 2.73% 0.88%
2008 2.53% 0.95%
2007 2.22% 0.96%
2006 2.23% 0.97%
2005 2.73% 0.93%
2004 3.44% 0.93%
2003 4.15% 0.86%
2002 5.94% 0.93%
2001 6.08% 0.99%
2000 2.44% 1.03%
1999 0.52% 1.15%
1998 0.99% 1.17%
1997 1.3% 1.2%
1996 0.48% 1.17%
1995 0.15% 1.18%
1994 0.38% 1.22%
1993 -0.22% 1.31%
1992 -1.88% 1.34%
1991 1.18% 1.34%
1990 4.04% 1.34%
1989 2.53% 0.95%
1988 2.74% 0.91%
1987 2.72% 0.9%
1986 2.47% 0.93%
1985 2.24% 0.89%
1984 2.21% 0.87%
1983 2.16% 0.92%
1982 2.07% 0.96%
1981 2.04% 1.29%
1980 2.01% 0.66%
1979 1.97% 1.11%
1978 1.95% 1.06%
1977 1.87% 1.01%
1976 1.82% 0.95%
1975 1.86% 0.99%
1974 1.87% 0.92%
1973 1.87% 0.96%
1972 1.85% 1.08%
1971 1.88% 1.27%
1970 1.91% 1.17%
1969 1.91% 0.98%
1968 1.92% 1%
1967 1.9% 1.09%
1966 1.86% 1.16%
1965 1.83% 1.26%
1964 1.77% 1.4%
1963 1.71% 1.45%
1962 1.65% 1.55%
1961 1.58% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone United States
Current population
9049533
344023146
Population rank 101/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 4.15%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
2.03 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
7.5 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +497 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 134/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -11,309 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 136/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 1,230,663
2024 - -11,000 - 1,286,132
2023 188,788 -4,000 502,372 1,322,668
2022 186,625 -4,000 399,926 1,319,009
2021 183,326 -1,544 199,137 674,787
2020 181,015 1,292 208,862 329,769
2019 181,068 -2,238 887,476 1,774,500
2018 178,772 -2,741 955,022 1,764,961
2017 173,259 1,234 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 168,784 4,657 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 162,275 -356 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 160,137 485 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 161,265 2,773 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 160,915 988 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 158,858 6,895 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 155,338 7,983 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 152,669 18,145 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 149,855 1,182 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 145,740 -6,042 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 144,127 -34,052 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 137,234 -1,805 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 132,661 23,897 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 130,312 69,185 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 126,429 86,578 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 116,647 227,791 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 110,754 83,013 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 102,295 -84,926 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 103,906 -76,766 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 105,433 -48,437 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 104,140 -52,110 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 100,885 -112,857 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 101,486 -77,371 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 103,317 -95,476 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 103,251 -129,565 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 105,477 -238,965 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 100,778 131,587 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 98,298 -5,079 1,875,826 400,998
1988 96,344 9,470 1,735,943 460,778
1987 94,235 9,558 1,720,252 480,815
1986 90,902 7,992 1,656,917 493,082
1985 88,869 -7,873 1,689,258 598,777
1984 87,072 -8,708 1,627,192 622,793
1983 84,628 -8,783 1,636,544 662,840
1982 82,457 -11,379 1,714,317 600,149
1981 80,111 -12,699 1,652,153 583,070
1980 77,932 -11,641 1,608,450 595,916
1979 75,992 -13,095 1,597,894 503,559
1978 74,130 -13,073 1,402,283 556,521
1977 71,663 -12,399 1,431,556 577,060
1976 69,506 -15,686 1,264,604 635,590
1975 67,560 -13,058 1,252,644 655,078
1974 65,357 -11,473 1,218,968 706,978
1973 62,443 -9,322 1,165,499 783,163
1972 60,279 -8,267 1,301,355 833,543
1971 58,484 -8,162 1,640,519 833,549
1970 56,513 -4,957 1,824,965 744,902
1969 54,768 -4,485 1,702,487 523,740
1968 53,126 -3,743 1,565,507 594,514
1967 51,734 -2,819 1,669,181 585,410
1966 49,486 -2,911 1,749,387 637,692
1965 47,223 -1,851 1,943,030 644,902
1964 45,487 -2,308 2,245,099 618,635
1963 43,569 -2,480 2,289,826 639,495
1962 41,603 -2,658 2,406,337 625,617
1961 40,022 -2,947 2,571,681 580,333
1960 38,192 -3,528 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/united-states | 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 the United States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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/united-states | 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.