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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 2.51 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st 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 +2.32% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Zambia
2100 16,111,324 65,217,429
2099 16,126,181 64,871,545
2098 16,139,280 64,515,891
2097 16,154,153 64,148,736
2096 16,164,923 63,777,313
2095 16,173,557 63,393,169
2094 16,173,155 62,992,652
2093 16,177,864 62,590,327
2092 16,175,032 62,175,930
2091 16,168,153 61,750,591
2090 16,158,415 61,321,399
2089 16,146,773 60,880,148
2088 16,133,018 60,434,676
2087 16,116,823 59,970,107
2086 16,089,780 59,499,234
2085 16,068,438 59,023,040
2084 16,044,782 58,535,857
2083 16,011,134 58,040,512
2082 15,975,073 57,538,672
2081 15,935,071 57,027,491
2080 15,896,846 56,506,421
2079 15,854,898 55,983,242
2078 15,805,607 55,449,777
2077 15,754,551 54,906,771
2076 15,699,439 54,361,075
2075 15,639,458 53,806,856
2074 15,584,377 53,246,777
2073 15,516,736 52,677,348
2072 15,446,543 52,101,139
2071 15,374,790 51,519,691
2070 15,297,449 50,931,614
2069 15,216,666 50,334,700
2068 15,128,048 49,737,479
2067 15,032,144 49,135,488
2066 14,935,222 48,530,443
2065 14,837,697 47,918,592
2064 14,740,749 47,299,740
2063 14,642,031 46,677,439
2062 14,529,557 46,048,819
2061 14,423,861 45,416,657
2060 14,311,215 44,777,347
2059 14,198,706 44,137,306
2058 14,080,827 43,494,451
2057 13,960,869 42,851,923
2056 13,836,132 42,206,898
2055 13,706,113 41,558,284
2054 13,579,802 40,906,492
2053 13,444,465 40,255,629
2052 13,303,409 39,603,888
2051 13,156,370 38,949,958
2050 13,010,109 38,294,607
2049 12,867,021 37,634,194
2048 12,716,015 36,971,309
2047 12,570,250 36,309,749
2046 12,414,307 35,645,868
2045 12,257,874 34,981,812
2044 12,092,075 34,316,981
2043 11,931,531 33,652,420
2042 11,770,467 32,990,657
2041 11,602,993 32,329,447
2040 11,431,337 31,664,262
2039 11,262,807 31,001,305
2038 11,100,099 30,335,662
2037 10,931,629 29,668,561
2036 10,760,758 29,000,264
2035 10,585,702 28,333,498
2034 10,413,826 27,671,195
2033 10,241,196 27,011,974
2032 10,062,575 26,356,580
2031 9,883,708 25,702,812
2030 9,708,038 25,055,216
2029 9,532,000 24,414,405
2028 9,360,873 23,780,809
2027 9,179,702 23,151,479
2026 9,001,269 22,529,742
2025 8,822,114 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st 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 43.8% to 13,010,109 people with a rank change from 101st to 91st. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 2.08% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Zambia
Current population
9049533
22697916
Population rank 101/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.27%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
2.03 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
7.5 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 21/197
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 - -11,000 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 (1960–2024, 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/zambia | 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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