The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- Sierra Leone's population is 9,668 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
Sierra Leone vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sierra Leone
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 16,111,324 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 16,126,181 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 16,139,280 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 16,154,153 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 16,164,923 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 16,173,557 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 16,173,155 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 16,177,864 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 16,175,032 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 16,168,153 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 16,158,415 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 16,146,773 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 16,133,018 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 16,116,823 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 16,089,780 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 16,068,438 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 16,044,782 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 16,011,134 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 15,975,073 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 15,935,071 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 15,896,846 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 15,854,898 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 15,805,607 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 15,754,551 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 15,699,439 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 15,639,458 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 15,584,377 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 15,516,736 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 15,446,543 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 15,374,790 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 15,297,449 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 15,216,666 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 15,128,048 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 15,032,144 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 14,935,222 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 14,837,697 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 14,740,749 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 14,642,031 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 14,529,557 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 14,423,861 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 14,311,215 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 14,198,706 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 14,080,827 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 13,960,869 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 13,836,132 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 13,706,113 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 13,579,802 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 13,444,465 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 13,303,409 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 13,156,370 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 13,010,109 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 12,867,021 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 12,716,015 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 12,570,250 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 12,414,307 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 12,257,874 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 12,092,075 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 11,931,531 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 11,770,467 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 11,602,993 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 11,431,337 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 11,262,807 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 11,100,099 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 10,931,629 | 996 |
| 2036 | 10,760,758 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 10,585,702 | 988 |
| 2034 | 10,413,826 | 988 |
| 2033 | 10,241,196 | 974 |
| 2032 | 10,062,575 | 964 |
| 2031 | 9,883,708 | 977 |
| 2030 | 9,708,038 | 979 |
| 2029 | 9,532,000 | 985 |
| 2028 | 9,360,873 | 983 |
| 2027 | 9,179,702 | 946 |
| 2026 | 9,001,269 | 933 |
| 2025 | 8,822,114 | 927 |
| 2024 | 8,642,022 | 910 |
| 2023 | 8,460,512 | 927 |
| 2022 | 8,276,807 | 951 |
| 2021 | 8,094,602 | 972 |
| 2020 | 7,912,558 | 987 |
| 2019 | 7,731,991 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 7,554,563 | - |
| 2017 | 7,379,299 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 7,205,328 | - |
| 2015 | 7,037,655 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 6,876,385 | 842 |
| 2013 | 6,714,051 | 839 |
| 2012 | 6,551,080 | 836 |
| 2011 | 6,387,251 | 832 |
| 2010 | 6,222,714 | 829 |
| 2009 | 6,055,646 | 826 |
| 2008 | 5,894,722 | 824 |
| 2007 | 5,749,352 | 821 |
| 2006 | 5,624,466 | 932 |
| 2005 | 5,501,712 | 921 |
| 2004 | 5,355,717 | 921 |
| 2003 | 5,177,687 | 911 |
| 2002 | 4,971,435 | 900 |
| 2001 | 4,692,716 | 890 |
| 2000 | 4,423,611 | 880 |
| 1999 | 4,318,043 | - |
| 1998 | 4,295,785 | - |
| 1997 | 4,253,716 | - |
| 1996 | 4,199,210 | - |
| 1995 | 4,179,179 | - |
| 1994 | 4,173,105 | - |
| 1993 | 4,157,130 | - |
| 1992 | 4,166,366 | - |
| 1991 | 4,246,267 | - |
| 1990 | 4,196,828 | - |
| 1989 | 4,034,037 | - |
| 1988 | 3,934,517 | - |
| 1987 | 3,829,718 | - |
| 1986 | 3,728,380 | - |
| 1985 | 3,638,438 | - |
| 1984 | 3,558,758 | - |
| 1983 | 3,481,646 | - |
| 1982 | 3,408,183 | - |
| 1981 | 3,338,940 | - |
| 1980 | 3,272,089 | - |
| 1979 | 3,207,499 | - |
| 1978 | 3,145,517 | - |
| 1977 | 3,085,354 | - |
| 1976 | 3,028,820 | - |
| 1975 | 2,974,657 | - |
| 1974 | 2,920,459 | - |
| 1973 | 2,866,955 | - |
| 1972 | 2,814,388 | - |
| 1971 | 2,763,222 | - |
| 1970 | 2,712,286 | - |
| 1969 | 2,661,365 | - |
| 1968 | 2,611,532 | - |
| 1967 | 2,562,384 | - |
| 1966 | 2,514,638 | - |
| 1965 | 2,468,666 | - |
| 1964 | 2,424,390 | - |
| 1963 | 2,382,258 | - |
| 1962 | 2,342,242 | - |
| 1961 | 2,304,227 | - |
| 1960 | 2,268,356 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | -0.09% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | -0.08% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | -0.09% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | -0.07% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | -0.05% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | 0.002% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | -0.03% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | 0.02% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | 0.04% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | 0.06% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | 0.07% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | 0.09% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | 0.1% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | 0.17% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | 0.13% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | 0.15% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | 0.21% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | 0.23% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | 0.25% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | 0.24% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | 0.26% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | 0.31% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | 0.32% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | 0.35% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | 0.38% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | 0.35% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | 0.44% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | 0.45% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | 0.47% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | 0.51% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | 0.53% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | 0.59% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | 0.64% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | 0.65% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | 0.66% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | 0.66% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | 0.67% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | 0.77% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | 0.73% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | 0.79% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | 0.79% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | 0.84% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | 0.86% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 0.9% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | 0.95% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | 0.93% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | 1.01% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | 1.06% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | 1.12% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | 1.12% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | 1.11% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | 1.19% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | 1.16% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | 1.26% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | 1.28% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | 1.37% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | 1.35% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | 1.37% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | 1.44% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | 1.5% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | 1.5% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | 1.47% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | 1.54% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | 1.59% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | 1.65% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | 1.65% | 0% |
| 2034 | 1.69% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | 1.78% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 1.81% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 1.81% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 1.85% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 1.83% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 1.97% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 1.98% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 2.03% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 2.08% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 2.15% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.22% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | 2.25% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 2.34% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 2.35% | 0% |
| 2018 | 2.38% | 0% |
| 2017 | 2.41% | 0% |
| 2016 | 2.38% | 0% |
| 2015 | 2.35% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 2.42% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 2.49% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 2.56% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 2.64% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 2.76% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 2.73% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 2.53% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 2.22% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 2.23% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 2.73% | 0% |
| 2004 | 3.44% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.15% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 5.94% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 6.08% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 2.44% | - |
| 1999 | 0.52% | - |
| 1998 | 0.99% | - |
| 1997 | 1.3% | - |
| 1996 | 0.48% | - |
| 1995 | 0.15% | - |
| 1994 | 0.38% | - |
| 1993 | -0.22% | - |
| 1992 | -1.88% | - |
| 1991 | 1.18% | - |
| 1990 | 4.04% | - |
| 1989 | 2.53% | - |
| 1988 | 2.74% | - |
| 1987 | 2.72% | - |
| 1986 | 2.47% | - |
| 1985 | 2.24% | - |
| 1984 | 2.21% | - |
| 1983 | 2.16% | - |
| 1982 | 2.07% | - |
| 1981 | 2.04% | - |
| 1980 | 2.01% | - |
| 1979 | 1.97% | - |
| 1978 | 1.95% | - |
| 1977 | 1.87% | - |
| 1976 | 1.82% | - |
| 1975 | 1.86% | - |
| 1974 | 1.87% | - |
| 1973 | 1.87% | - |
| 1972 | 1.85% | - |
| 1971 | 1.88% | - |
| 1970 | 1.91% | - |
| 1969 | 1.91% | - |
| 1968 | 1.92% | - |
| 1967 | 1.9% | - |
| 1966 | 1.86% | - |
| 1965 | 1.83% | - |
| 1964 | 1.77% | - |
| 1963 | 1.71% | - |
| 1962 | 1.65% | - |
| 1961 | 1.58% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
9049533
|
936
|
| Population rank | 101/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.11% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
2.9 minutes
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
2.03 minutes
|
n/a |
| One death every |
7.5 minutes
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +497 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +181,510 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.15% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 47/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
46.6 minutes
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | -11,309 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 136/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 49,997 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 151/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 174/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -11,309 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | -11,000 | - | - |
| 2023 | 188,788 | -4,000 | - | - |
| 2022 | 186,625 | -4,000 | - | - |
| 2021 | 183,326 | -1,544 | - | - |
| 2020 | 181,015 | 1,292 | - | - |
| 2019 | 181,068 | -2,238 | - | - |
| 2018 | 178,772 | -2,741 | - | - |
| 2017 | 173,259 | 1,234 | - | - |
| 2016 | 168,784 | 4,657 | - | - |
| 2015 | 162,275 | -356 | - | - |
| 2014 | 160,137 | 485 | - | - |
| 2013 | 161,265 | 2,773 | - | - |
| 2012 | 160,915 | 988 | - | - |
| 2011 | 158,858 | 6,895 | - | - |
| 2010 | 155,338 | 7,983 | - | - |
| 2009 | 152,669 | 18,145 | - | - |
| 2008 | 149,855 | 1,182 | - | - |
| 2007 | 145,740 | -6,042 | - | - |
| 2006 | 144,127 | -34,052 | - | - |
| 2005 | 137,234 | -1,805 | - | - |
| 2004 | 132,661 | 23,897 | - | - |
| 2003 | 130,312 | 69,185 | - | - |
| 2002 | 126,429 | 86,578 | - | - |
| 2001 | 116,647 | 227,791 | - | - |
| 2000 | 110,754 | 83,013 | - | - |
| 1999 | 102,295 | -84,926 | - | - |
| 1998 | 103,906 | -76,766 | - | - |
| 1997 | 105,433 | -48,437 | - | - |
| 1996 | 104,140 | -52,110 | - | - |
| 1995 | 100,885 | -112,857 | - | - |
| 1994 | 101,486 | -77,371 | - | - |
| 1993 | 103,317 | -95,476 | - | - |
| 1992 | 103,251 | -129,565 | - | - |
| 1991 | 105,477 | -238,965 | - | - |
| 1990 | 100,778 | 131,587 | - | - |
| 1989 | 98,298 | -5,079 | - | - |
| 1988 | 96,344 | 9,470 | - | - |
| 1987 | 94,235 | 9,558 | - | - |
| 1986 | 90,902 | 7,992 | - | - |
| 1985 | 88,869 | -7,873 | - | - |
| 1984 | 87,072 | -8,708 | - | - |
| 1983 | 84,628 | -8,783 | - | - |
| 1982 | 82,457 | -11,379 | - | - |
| 1981 | 80,111 | -12,699 | - | - |
| 1980 | 77,932 | -11,641 | - | - |
| 1979 | 75,992 | -13,095 | - | - |
| 1978 | 74,130 | -13,073 | - | - |
| 1977 | 71,663 | -12,399 | - | - |
| 1976 | 69,506 | -15,686 | - | - |
| 1975 | 67,560 | -13,058 | - | - |
| 1974 | 65,357 | -11,473 | - | - |
| 1973 | 62,443 | -9,322 | - | - |
| 1972 | 60,279 | -8,267 | - | - |
| 1971 | 58,484 | -8,162 | - | - |
| 1970 | 56,513 | -4,957 | - | - |
| 1969 | 54,768 | -4,485 | - | - |
| 1968 | 53,126 | -3,743 | - | - |
| 1967 | 51,734 | -2,819 | - | - |
| 1966 | 49,486 | -2,911 | - | - |
| 1965 | 47,223 | -1,851 | - | - |
| 1964 | 45,487 | -2,308 | - | - |
| 1963 | 43,569 | -2,480 | - | - |
| 1962 | 41,603 | -2,658 | - | - |
| 1961 | 40,022 | -2,947 | - | - |
| 1960 | 38,192 | -3,528 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/vatican | CC BY
Biggest cities by population
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vatican City | 882 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Sierra Leone and the Vatican
|
Sierra Leone
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.3 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 24.4 years | n/a |
| Median age | 20.5 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.9:50.1 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 3.79 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 323 ppl/mi² | 5,493 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/vatican | 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)
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