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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,819,794 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,090,531 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 2.51 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 100th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.29% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.09M (61.6% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Zambia
2100 16,107,087 65,204,593
2099 16,121,940 64,858,778
2098 16,135,035 64,503,193
2097 16,149,905 64,136,110
2096 16,160,672 63,764,760
2095 16,169,304 63,380,692
2094 16,168,902 62,980,254
2093 16,173,609 62,578,008
2092 16,170,778 62,163,693
2091 16,163,901 61,738,437
2090 16,154,165 61,309,330
2089 16,142,526 60,868,166
2088 16,128,775 60,422,781
2087 16,112,585 59,958,303
2086 16,085,549 59,487,524
2085 16,064,212 59,011,423
2084 16,040,563 58,524,337
2083 16,006,923 58,029,088
2082 15,970,872 57,527,347
2081 15,930,880 57,016,267
2080 15,892,665 56,495,299
2079 15,850,728 55,972,223
2078 15,801,450 55,438,864
2077 15,750,408 54,895,964
2076 15,695,310 54,350,375
2075 15,635,345 53,796,265
2074 15,580,279 53,236,297
2073 15,512,655 52,666,980
2072 15,442,481 52,090,884
2071 15,370,747 51,509,551
2070 15,293,426 50,921,590
2069 15,212,664 50,324,793
2068 15,124,069 49,727,689
2067 15,028,190 49,125,817
2066 14,931,295 48,520,891
2065 14,833,794 47,909,160
2064 14,736,872 47,290,430
2063 14,638,180 46,668,252
2062 14,525,736 46,039,755
2061 14,420,068 45,407,718
2060 14,307,451 44,768,534
2059 14,194,972 44,128,619
2058 14,077,124 43,485,891
2057 13,957,197 42,843,489
2056 13,832,494 42,198,591
2055 13,702,508 41,550,105
2054 13,576,231 40,898,440
2053 13,440,929 40,247,706
2052 13,299,910 39,596,094
2051 13,152,910 38,942,292
2050 13,006,688 38,287,070
2049 12,863,637 37,626,787
2048 12,712,671 36,964,032
2047 12,566,944 36,302,603
2046 12,411,042 35,638,852
2045 12,254,651 34,974,927
2044 12,088,895 34,310,227
2043 11,928,393 33,645,797
2042 11,767,372 32,984,164
2041 11,599,942 32,323,084
2040 11,428,331 31,658,029
2039 11,259,845 30,995,204
2038 11,097,180 30,329,691
2037 10,928,754 29,662,721
2036 10,757,928 28,994,556
2035 10,582,918 28,327,922
2034 10,411,088 27,665,749
2033 10,238,503 27,006,658
2032 10,059,929 26,351,393
2031 9,881,109 25,697,754
2030 9,705,485 25,050,285
2029 9,529,493 24,409,600
2028 9,358,412 23,776,128
2027 9,177,288 23,146,922
2026 8,998,902 22,525,308
2025 8,819,794 21,913,874
2024 8,642,022 21,314,956
2023 8,460,512 20,723,965
2022 8,276,807 20,152,938
2021 8,094,602 19,603,607
2020 7,912,558 19,059,395
2019 7,731,991 18,513,839
2018 7,554,563 17,973,569
2017 7,379,299 17,441,320
2016 7,205,328 16,914,423
2015 7,037,655 16,399,089
2014 6,876,385 15,895,315
2013 6,714,051 15,398,997
2012 6,551,080 14,913,629
2011 6,387,251 14,437,796
2010 6,222,714 13,965,594
2009 6,055,646 13,490,389
2008 5,894,722 13,021,324
2007 5,749,352 12,565,085
2006 5,624,466 12,129,553
2005 5,501,712 11,718,819
2004 5,355,717 11,338,198
2003 5,177,687 10,983,595
2002 4,971,435 10,647,949
2001 4,692,716 10,325,185
2000 4,423,611 10,017,631
1999 4,318,043 9,740,005
1998 4,295,785 9,482,408
1997 4,253,716 9,237,063
1996 4,199,210 9,004,053
1995 4,179,179 8,785,763
1994 4,173,105 8,576,269
1993 4,157,130 8,373,921
1992 4,166,366 8,176,680
1991 4,246,267 7,981,650
1990 4,196,828 7,786,169
1989 4,034,037 7,589,216
1988 3,934,517 7,391,440
1987 3,829,718 7,191,282
1986 3,728,380 6,986,471
1985 3,638,438 6,780,953
1984 3,558,758 6,580,490
1983 3,481,646 6,381,038
1982 3,408,183 6,178,637
1981 3,338,940 5,983,289
1980 3,272,089 5,802,833
1979 3,207,499 5,631,728
1978 3,145,517 5,465,374
1977 3,085,354 5,302,480
1976 3,028,820 5,143,842
1975 2,974,657 4,990,086
1974 2,920,459 4,842,746
1973 2,866,955 4,702,693
1972 2,814,388 4,569,309
1971 2,763,222 4,442,525
1970 2,712,286 4,321,718
1969 2,661,365 4,197,116
1968 2,611,532 4,065,593
1967 2,562,384 3,936,343
1966 2,514,638 3,812,003
1965 2,468,666 3,692,086
1964 2,424,390 3,577,017
1963 2,382,258 3,465,907
1962 2,342,242 3,358,099
1961 2,304,227 3,254,086
1960 2,268,356 3,153,729

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 100th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sierra Leone's population will grow by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people with a rank change from 100th to 91st. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Zambia
2100 -0.09% 0.53%
2099 -0.08% 0.55%
2098 -0.09% 0.57%
2097 -0.07% 0.58%
2096 -0.05% 0.61%
2095 0.002% 0.64%
2094 -0.03% 0.64%
2093 0.02% 0.67%
2092 0.04% 0.69%
2091 0.06% 0.7%
2090 0.07% 0.72%
2089 0.09% 0.74%
2088 0.1% 0.77%
2087 0.17% 0.79%
2086 0.13% 0.81%
2085 0.15% 0.83%
2084 0.21% 0.85%
2083 0.23% 0.87%
2082 0.25% 0.9%
2081 0.24% 0.92%
2080 0.26% 0.93%
2079 0.31% 0.96%
2078 0.32% 0.99%
2077 0.35% 1%
2076 0.38% 1.03%
2075 0.35% 1.05%
2074 0.44% 1.08%
2073 0.45% 1.11%
2072 0.47% 1.13%
2071 0.51% 1.15%
2070 0.53% 1.19%
2069 0.59% 1.2%
2068 0.64% 1.23%
2067 0.65% 1.25%
2066 0.66% 1.28%
2065 0.66% 1.31%
2064 0.67% 1.33%
2063 0.77% 1.37%
2062 0.73% 1.39%
2061 0.79% 1.43%
2060 0.79% 1.45%
2059 0.84% 1.48%
2058 0.86% 1.5%
2057 0.9% 1.53%
2056 0.95% 1.56%
2055 0.93% 1.59%
2054 1.01% 1.62%
2053 1.06% 1.65%
2052 1.12% 1.68%
2051 1.12% 1.71%
2050 1.11% 1.75%
2049 1.19% 1.79%
2048 1.16% 1.82%
2047 1.26% 1.86%
2046 1.28% 1.9%
2045 1.37% 1.94%
2044 1.35% 1.97%
2043 1.37% 2.01%
2042 1.44% 2.05%
2041 1.5% 2.1%
2040 1.5% 2.14%
2039 1.47% 2.19%
2038 1.54% 2.25%
2037 1.59% 2.3%
2036 1.65% 2.35%
2035 1.65% 2.39%
2034 1.69% 2.44%
2033 1.78% 2.49%
2032 1.81% 2.54%
2031 1.81% 2.58%
2030 1.85% 2.62%
2029 1.83% 2.66%
2028 1.97% 2.72%
2027 1.98% 2.76%
2026 2.03% 2.79%
2025 2.06% 2.81%
2024 2.15% 2.85%
2023 2.22% 2.83%
2022 2.25% 2.8%
2021 2.3% 2.86%
2020 2.34% 2.95%
2019 2.35% 3.01%
2018 2.38% 3.05%
2017 2.41% 3.12%
2016 2.38% 3.14%
2015 2.35% 3.17%
2014 2.42% 3.22%
2013 2.49% 3.25%
2012 2.56% 3.3%
2011 2.64% 3.38%
2010 2.76% 3.52%
2009 2.73% 3.6%
2008 2.53% 3.63%
2007 2.22% 3.59%
2006 2.23% 3.5%
2005 2.73% 3.36%
2004 3.44% 3.23%
2003 4.15% 3.15%
2002 5.94% 3.13%
2001 6.08% 3.07%
2000 2.44% 2.85%
1999 0.52% 2.72%
1998 0.99% 2.66%
1997 1.3% 2.59%
1996 0.48% 2.48%
1995 0.15% 2.44%
1994 0.38% 2.42%
1993 -0.22% 2.41%
1992 -1.88% 2.44%
1991 1.18% 2.51%
1990 4.04% 2.6%
1989 2.53% 2.68%
1988 2.74% 2.78%
1987 2.72% 2.93%
1986 2.47% 3.03%
1985 2.24% 3.05%
1984 2.21% 3.13%
1983 2.16% 3.28%
1982 2.07% 3.26%
1981 2.04% 3.11%
1980 2.01% 3.04%
1979 1.97% 3.04%
1978 1.95% 3.07%
1977 1.87% 3.08%
1976 1.82% 3.08%
1975 1.86% 3.04%
1974 1.87% 2.98%
1973 1.87% 2.92%
1972 1.85% 2.85%
1971 1.88% 2.8%
1970 1.91% 2.97%
1969 1.91% 3.24%
1968 1.92% 3.28%
1967 1.9% 3.26%
1966 1.86% 3.25%
1965 1.83% 3.22%
1964 1.77% 3.21%
1963 1.71% 3.21%
1962 1.65% 3.2%
1961 1.58% 3.18%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.06%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Zambia
Current population
9090531
22844606
Population rank 100/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.27%
One net population change
2.96 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
2.02 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
7.41 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +487 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +177,772 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.06% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 19/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -11,309 +6,562
Net migration rank 136/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - 6,562
2024 189,234 -11,000 587,419 7,381
2023 188,788 -4,000 577,660 9,521
2022 186,625 -4,000 563,456 -8,566
2021 183,326 -1,544 535,629 8,143
2020 181,015 1,292 536,484 8,156
2019 181,068 -2,238 528,089 18,385
2018 178,772 -2,741 515,644 18,431
2017 173,259 1,234 504,630 25,789
2016 168,784 4,657 497,521 25,860
2015 162,275 -356 491,021 16,261
2014 160,137 485 483,663 16,574
2013 161,265 2,773 476,846 15,542
2012 160,915 988 469,406 8,958
2011 158,858 6,895 459,743 13,569
2010 155,338 7,983 448,337 22,761
2009 152,669 18,145 434,458 44,867
2008 149,855 1,182 419,560 39,249
2007 145,740 -6,042 403,729 49,945
2006 144,127 -34,052 387,891 29,517
2005 137,234 -1,805 368,756 35,316
2004 132,661 23,897 349,352 7,819
2003 130,312 69,185 331,189 20,845
2002 126,429 86,578 316,041 3,206
2001 116,647 227,791 302,682 23,582
2000 110,754 83,013 293,186 -4,338
1999 102,295 -84,926 283,297 -16,888
1998 103,906 -76,766 275,568 -26,796
1997 105,433 -48,437 268,198 -26,276
1996 104,140 -52,110 262,468 -38,358
1995 100,885 -112,857 257,897 -45,423
1994 101,486 -77,371 252,023 -45,504
1993 103,317 -95,476 245,917 -47,739
1992 103,251 -129,565 239,953 -43,656
1991 105,477 -238,965 237,957 -44,203
1990 100,778 131,587 235,835 -38,619
1989 98,298 -5,079 233,429 -36,736
1988 96,344 9,470 230,118 -31,270
1987 94,235 9,558 227,813 -26,338
1986 90,902 7,992 224,768 -16,610
1985 88,869 -7,873 221,351 -18,474
1984 87,072 -8,708 216,695 -18,652
1983 84,628 -8,783 212,712 -11,849
1982 82,457 -11,379 207,621 -3,676
1981 80,111 -12,699 202,822 -16,072
1980 77,932 -11,641 198,817 -24,664
1979 75,992 -13,095 197,578 -29,515
1978 74,130 -13,073 194,933 -30,284
1977 71,663 -12,399 191,557 -30,423
1976 69,506 -15,686 186,762 -30,612
1975 67,560 -13,058 182,258 -30,886
1974 65,357 -11,473 174,484 -31,178
1973 62,443 -9,322 168,258 -31,472
1972 60,279 -8,267 161,648 -31,672
1971 58,484 -8,162 155,249 -31,651
1970 56,513 -4,957 149,380 -31,370
1969 54,768 -4,485 142,660 -11,469
1968 53,126 -3,743 137,315 -5,447
1967 51,734 -2,819 131,938 -5,298
1966 49,486 -2,911 127,164 -5,129
1965 47,223 -1,851 122,814 -5,023
1964 45,487 -2,308 117,197 -4,851
1963 43,569 -2,480 114,555 -4,676
1962 41,603 -2,658 110,173 -4,428
1961 40,022 -2,947 106,318 -4,043
1960 38,192 -3,528 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/zambia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99% of the population change in Sierra Leone is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people). In Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/zambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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