The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- Sierra Leone's population is 26.2 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).
Sierra Leone vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sierra Leone
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 16,111,324 | 883,219 |
| 2099 | 16,126,181 | 878,572 |
| 2098 | 16,139,280 | 873,798 |
| 2097 | 16,154,153 | 868,872 |
| 2096 | 16,164,923 | 863,899 |
| 2095 | 16,173,557 | 858,713 |
| 2094 | 16,173,155 | 853,379 |
| 2093 | 16,177,864 | 847,908 |
| 2092 | 16,175,032 | 842,392 |
| 2091 | 16,168,153 | 836,807 |
| 2090 | 16,158,415 | 831,106 |
| 2089 | 16,146,773 | 825,333 |
| 2088 | 16,133,018 | 819,413 |
| 2087 | 16,116,823 | 813,386 |
| 2086 | 16,089,780 | 807,304 |
| 2085 | 16,068,438 | 801,030 |
| 2084 | 16,044,782 | 794,642 |
| 2083 | 16,011,134 | 788,195 |
| 2082 | 15,975,073 | 781,693 |
| 2081 | 15,935,071 | 775,091 |
| 2080 | 15,896,846 | 768,410 |
| 2079 | 15,854,898 | 761,593 |
| 2078 | 15,805,607 | 754,638 |
| 2077 | 15,754,551 | 747,679 |
| 2076 | 15,699,439 | 740,583 |
| 2075 | 15,639,458 | 733,404 |
| 2074 | 15,584,377 | 726,144 |
| 2073 | 15,516,736 | 718,748 |
| 2072 | 15,446,543 | 711,260 |
| 2071 | 15,374,790 | 703,705 |
| 2070 | 15,297,449 | 696,123 |
| 2069 | 15,216,666 | 688,506 |
| 2068 | 15,128,048 | 680,826 |
| 2067 | 15,032,144 | 673,074 |
| 2066 | 14,935,222 | 665,248 |
| 2065 | 14,837,697 | 657,389 |
| 2064 | 14,740,749 | 649,466 |
| 2063 | 14,642,031 | 641,532 |
| 2062 | 14,529,557 | 633,599 |
| 2061 | 14,423,861 | 625,729 |
| 2060 | 14,311,215 | 617,794 |
| 2059 | 14,198,706 | 609,801 |
| 2058 | 14,080,827 | 601,770 |
| 2057 | 13,960,869 | 593,715 |
| 2056 | 13,836,132 | 585,658 |
| 2055 | 13,706,113 | 577,507 |
| 2054 | 13,579,802 | 569,335 |
| 2053 | 13,444,465 | 561,113 |
| 2052 | 13,303,409 | 552,889 |
| 2051 | 13,156,370 | 544,646 |
| 2050 | 13,010,109 | 536,304 |
| 2049 | 12,867,021 | 527,975 |
| 2048 | 12,716,015 | 519,610 |
| 2047 | 12,570,250 | 511,256 |
| 2046 | 12,414,307 | 502,817 |
| 2045 | 12,257,874 | 494,393 |
| 2044 | 12,092,075 | 485,933 |
| 2043 | 11,931,531 | 477,540 |
| 2042 | 11,770,467 | 469,142 |
| 2041 | 11,602,993 | 460,812 |
| 2040 | 11,431,337 | 452,499 |
| 2039 | 11,262,807 | 444,231 |
| 2038 | 11,100,099 | 435,987 |
| 2037 | 10,931,629 | 427,825 |
| 2036 | 10,760,758 | 419,744 |
| 2035 | 10,585,702 | 411,746 |
| 2034 | 10,413,826 | 403,811 |
| 2033 | 10,241,196 | 395,944 |
| 2032 | 10,062,575 | 388,203 |
| 2031 | 9,883,708 | 380,500 |
| 2030 | 9,708,038 | 372,841 |
| 2029 | 9,532,000 | 365,246 |
| 2028 | 9,360,873 | 357,704 |
| 2027 | 9,179,702 | 350,204 |
| 2026 | 9,001,269 | 342,728 |
| 2025 | 8,822,114 | 335,246 |
| 2024 | 8,642,022 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 8,460,512 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 8,276,807 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 6,876,385 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 6,714,051 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 6,551,080 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 6,387,251 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 6,055,646 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 5,894,722 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 5,749,352 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 5,624,466 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 5,355,717 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 5,177,687 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 4,971,435 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 4,692,716 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 4,318,043 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 4,295,785 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 4,253,716 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 4,199,210 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 4,173,105 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 4,157,130 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 4,166,366 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 4,246,267 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 4,034,037 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 3,934,517 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 3,829,718 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 3,728,380 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 3,558,758 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 3,481,646 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 3,408,183 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 3,338,940 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 3,207,499 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 3,145,517 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 3,085,354 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 3,028,820 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 2,974,657 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 2,920,459 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 2,866,955 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 2,814,388 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 2,763,222 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 2,661,365 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 2,611,532 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 2,562,384 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 2,514,638 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 2,424,390 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 2,382,258 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 2,342,242 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 2,304,227 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).
Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | -0.09% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -0.08% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -0.09% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -0.07% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -0.05% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | 0.002% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | -0.03% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | 0.02% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | 0.04% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | 0.06% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | 0.07% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | 0.09% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | 0.1% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | 0.17% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | 0.13% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | 0.15% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | 0.21% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | 0.23% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | 0.25% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | 0.24% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | 0.26% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | 0.32% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | 0.35% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | 0.38% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | 0.35% | 1% |
| 2074 | 0.44% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | 0.45% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | 0.47% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | 0.51% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | 0.53% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | 0.59% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | 0.64% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | 0.65% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | 0.66% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | 0.66% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | 0.67% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | 0.77% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | 0.73% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | 0.79% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | 0.79% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | 0.84% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | 0.86% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | 0.9% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | 0.95% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | 0.93% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | 1.01% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | 1.06% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | 1.12% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | 1.12% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | 1.11% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | 1.19% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | 1.16% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | 1.26% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | 1.28% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | 1.37% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | 1.35% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | 1.37% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | 1.44% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | 1.5% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | 1.5% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | 1.47% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | 1.54% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | 1.59% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | 1.65% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | 1.65% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | 1.69% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | 1.78% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 1.81% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | 1.81% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | 1.85% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | 1.83% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 1.97% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | 1.98% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | 2.03% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | 2.08% | 2.28% |
| 2024 | 2.15% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 2.22% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | 2.25% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 2.34% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 2.35% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 2.38% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 2.41% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 2.38% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 2.35% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 2.42% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 2.49% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 2.56% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 2.64% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 2.76% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 2.73% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 2.53% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 2.22% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | 2.23% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 2.73% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 3.44% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 4.15% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 5.94% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 6.08% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 2.44% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 0.52% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 0.99% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 0.48% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 0.15% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 0.38% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | -0.22% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | -1.88% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 1.18% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 4.04% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 2.53% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 2.74% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 2.72% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 2.47% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 2.24% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 2.21% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 2.16% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 2.07% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 2.04% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 2.01% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 1.97% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 1.95% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 1.87% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 1.82% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 1.86% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 1.87% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 1.87% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 1.85% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 1.88% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 1.91% | 3% |
| 1969 | 1.91% | 3% |
| 1968 | 1.92% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 1.9% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 1.86% | 3% |
| 1965 | 1.83% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 1.77% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 1.71% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 1.65% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 1.58% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.
Live population counters
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
9049533
|
344750
|
| Population rank | 101/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.11% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
2.9 minutes
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
2.03 minutes
|
58.5 minutes
|
| One death every |
7.5 minutes
|
5.38 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +497 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +181,510 | +7,368 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.15% | +2.3% |
| Population growth rate rank | 47/197 | 38/197 |
| One migration net change every |
46.6 minutes
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -11,309 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 136/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 49,997 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 151/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 174/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -11,309 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | - | -11,000 | - | -43 |
| 2023 | 188,788 | -4,000 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | 186,625 | -4,000 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | 183,326 | -1,544 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 181,015 | 1,292 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 181,068 | -2,238 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 178,772 | -2,741 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 173,259 | 1,234 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 168,784 | 4,657 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 162,275 | -356 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 160,137 | 485 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 161,265 | 2,773 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 160,915 | 988 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 158,858 | 6,895 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 155,338 | 7,983 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 152,669 | 18,145 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 149,855 | 1,182 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 145,740 | -6,042 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 144,127 | -34,052 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 137,234 | -1,805 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 132,661 | 23,897 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 130,312 | 69,185 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 126,429 | 86,578 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 116,647 | 227,791 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 110,754 | 83,013 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 102,295 | -84,926 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 103,906 | -76,766 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 105,433 | -48,437 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 104,140 | -52,110 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 100,885 | -112,857 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 101,486 | -77,371 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 103,317 | -95,476 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 103,251 | -129,565 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 105,477 | -238,965 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 100,778 | 131,587 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 98,298 | -5,079 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 96,344 | 9,470 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 94,235 | 9,558 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 90,902 | 7,992 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 88,869 | -7,873 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 87,072 | -8,708 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 84,628 | -8,783 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 82,457 | -11,379 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 80,111 | -12,699 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 77,932 | -11,641 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 75,992 | -13,095 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 74,130 | -13,073 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 71,663 | -12,399 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 69,506 | -15,686 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 67,560 | -13,058 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 65,357 | -11,473 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 62,443 | -9,322 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 60,279 | -8,267 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 58,484 | -8,162 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 56,513 | -4,957 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 54,768 | -4,485 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 53,126 | -3,743 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 51,734 | -2,819 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 49,486 | -2,911 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 47,223 | -1,851 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 45,487 | -2,308 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 43,569 | -2,480 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 41,603 | -2,658 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 40,022 | -2,947 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 38,192 | -3,528 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).
As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
Biggest cities by population
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Vila | 49K |
| Luganville | 17.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Sierra Leone and Vanuatu
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.3 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 24.4 years | 25.6 years |
| Median age | 20.5 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.9:50.1 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 3.79 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 323 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- 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.