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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Sierra Leone was 8,642,022 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sierra Leone's population is 9,049,533 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 1.92 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Sierra Leone is ranked the 101st most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.11% for Sierra Leone vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Sierra Leone has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sierra Leone has increased from 5.62M people to 9.05M (60.9% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Sierra Leone vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sierra Leone Zimbabwe
2100 16,111,324 37,483,053
2099 16,126,181 37,412,398
2098 16,139,280 37,328,255
2097 16,154,153 37,235,542
2096 16,164,923 37,142,915
2095 16,173,557 37,032,129
2094 16,173,155 36,912,747
2093 16,177,864 36,810,893
2092 16,175,032 36,688,511
2091 16,168,153 36,567,262
2090 16,158,415 36,425,606
2089 16,146,773 36,280,973
2088 16,133,018 36,141,446
2087 16,116,823 35,977,638
2086 16,089,780 35,808,135
2085 16,068,438 35,637,092
2084 16,044,782 35,456,207
2083 16,011,134 35,268,035
2082 15,975,073 35,078,904
2081 15,935,071 34,873,129
2080 15,896,846 34,658,962
2079 15,854,898 34,439,720
2078 15,805,607 34,217,295
2077 15,754,551 33,982,909
2076 15,699,439 33,739,228
2075 15,639,458 33,495,867
2074 15,584,377 33,244,838
2073 15,516,736 32,978,488
2072 15,446,543 32,706,059
2071 15,374,790 32,445,747
2070 15,297,449 32,181,119
2069 15,216,666 31,906,793
2068 15,128,048 31,631,000
2067 15,032,144 31,345,338
2066 14,935,222 31,062,884
2065 14,837,697 30,766,830
2064 14,740,749 30,479,939
2063 14,642,031 30,176,104
2062 14,529,557 29,867,679
2061 14,423,861 29,557,068
2060 14,311,215 29,252,423
2059 14,198,706 28,945,088
2058 14,080,827 28,631,679
2057 13,960,869 28,307,305
2056 13,836,132 27,990,713
2055 13,706,113 27,658,887
2054 13,579,802 27,331,920
2053 13,444,465 26,986,935
2052 13,303,409 26,643,553
2051 13,156,370 26,287,592
2050 13,010,109 25,934,893
2049 12,867,021 25,585,239
2048 12,716,015 25,228,082
2047 12,570,250 24,874,649
2046 12,414,307 24,513,443
2045 12,257,874 24,147,637
2044 12,092,075 23,783,088
2043 11,931,531 23,401,965
2042 11,770,467 23,035,288
2041 11,602,993 22,647,950
2040 11,431,337 22,273,520
2039 11,262,807 21,902,980
2038 11,100,099 21,530,130
2037 10,931,629 21,159,664
2036 10,760,758 20,791,034
2035 10,585,702 20,413,656
2034 10,413,826 20,048,019
2033 10,241,196 19,676,339
2032 10,062,575 19,311,985
2031 9,883,708 18,959,300
2030 9,708,038 18,613,738
2029 9,532,000 18,270,049
2028 9,360,873 17,933,466
2027 9,179,702 17,600,984
2026 9,001,269 17,273,208
2025 8,822,114 16,949,303
2024 8,642,022 16,634,373
2023 8,460,512 16,340,822
2022 8,276,807 16,069,056
2021 8,094,602 15,797,210
2020 7,912,558 15,526,888
2019 7,731,991 15,271,368
2018 7,554,563 15,034,452
2017 7,379,299 14,812,482
2016 7,205,328 14,600,294
2015 7,037,655 14,399,013
2014 6,876,385 14,207,359
2013 6,714,051 14,013,808
2012 6,551,080 13,817,887
2011 6,387,251 13,595,424
2010 6,222,714 13,356,548
2009 6,055,646 13,142,790
2008 5,894,722 12,959,149
2007 5,749,352 12,804,058
2006 5,624,466 12,636,445
2005 5,501,712 12,483,432
2004 5,355,717 12,365,896
2003 5,177,687 12,232,323
2002 4,971,435 12,087,653
2001 4,692,716 11,971,901
2000 4,423,611 11,892,055
1999 4,318,043 11,783,458
1998 4,295,785 11,594,297
1997 4,253,716 11,369,827
1996 4,199,210 11,158,360
1995 4,179,179 10,974,599
1994 4,173,105 10,873,148
1993 4,157,130 10,860,288
1992 4,166,366 10,702,700
1991 4,246,267 10,404,816
1990 4,196,828 10,137,281
1989 4,034,037 9,864,798
1988 3,934,517 9,583,094
1987 3,829,718 9,284,644
1986 3,728,380 8,982,578
1985 3,638,438 8,686,813
1984 3,558,758 8,391,488
1983 3,481,646 8,098,404
1982 3,408,183 7,796,496
1981 3,338,940 7,498,635
1980 3,272,089 7,041,303
1979 3,207,499 6,647,556
1978 3,145,517 6,543,575
1977 3,085,354 6,449,512
1976 3,028,820 6,287,105
1975 2,974,657 6,098,658
1974 2,920,459 5,908,328
1973 2,866,955 5,720,404
1972 2,814,388 5,542,445
1971 2,763,222 5,374,712
1970 2,712,286 5,215,918
1969 2,661,365 5,058,181
1968 2,611,532 4,900,440
1967 2,562,384 4,748,307
1966 2,514,638 4,601,217
1965 2,468,666 4,458,462
1964 2,424,390 4,320,006
1963 2,382,258 4,185,877
1962 2,342,242 4,055,959
1961 2,304,227 3,930,401
1960 2,268,356 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sierra Leone increased by 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sierra Leone gained 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Sierra Leone was ranked 106th most populous country in 2006 and is 101st in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sierra Leone Zimbabwe
2100 -0.09% 0.19%
2099 -0.08% 0.23%
2098 -0.09% 0.25%
2097 -0.07% 0.25%
2096 -0.05% 0.3%
2095 0.002% 0.32%
2094 -0.03% 0.28%
2093 0.02% 0.33%
2092 0.04% 0.33%
2091 0.06% 0.39%
2090 0.07% 0.4%
2089 0.09% 0.39%
2088 0.1% 0.46%
2087 0.17% 0.47%
2086 0.13% 0.48%
2085 0.15% 0.51%
2084 0.21% 0.53%
2083 0.23% 0.54%
2082 0.25% 0.59%
2081 0.24% 0.62%
2080 0.26% 0.64%
2079 0.31% 0.65%
2078 0.32% 0.69%
2077 0.35% 0.72%
2076 0.38% 0.73%
2075 0.35% 0.76%
2074 0.44% 0.81%
2073 0.45% 0.83%
2072 0.47% 0.8%
2071 0.51% 0.82%
2070 0.53% 0.86%
2069 0.59% 0.87%
2068 0.64% 0.91%
2067 0.65% 0.91%
2066 0.66% 0.96%
2065 0.66% 0.94%
2064 0.67% 1.01%
2063 0.77% 1.03%
2062 0.73% 1.05%
2061 0.79% 1.04%
2060 0.79% 1.06%
2059 0.84% 1.09%
2058 0.86% 1.15%
2057 0.9% 1.13%
2056 0.95% 1.2%
2055 0.93% 1.2%
2054 1.01% 1.28%
2053 1.06% 1.29%
2052 1.12% 1.35%
2051 1.12% 1.36%
2050 1.11% 1.37%
2049 1.19% 1.42%
2048 1.16% 1.42%
2047 1.26% 1.47%
2046 1.28% 1.51%
2045 1.37% 1.53%
2044 1.35% 1.63%
2043 1.37% 1.59%
2042 1.44% 1.71%
2041 1.5% 1.68%
2040 1.5% 1.69%
2039 1.47% 1.73%
2038 1.54% 1.75%
2037 1.59% 1.77%
2036 1.65% 1.85%
2035 1.65% 1.82%
2034 1.69% 1.89%
2033 1.78% 1.89%
2032 1.81% 1.86%
2031 1.81% 1.86%
2030 1.85% 1.88%
2029 1.83% 1.88%
2028 1.97% 1.89%
2027 1.98% 1.9%
2026 2.03% 1.91%
2025 2.08% 1.89%
2024 2.15% 1.8%
2023 2.22% 1.69%
2022 2.25% 1.72%
2021 2.3% 1.74%
2020 2.34% 1.67%
2019 2.35% 1.58%
2018 2.38% 1.5%
2017 2.41% 1.45%
2016 2.38% 1.4%
2015 2.35% 1.35%
2014 2.42% 1.38%
2013 2.49% 1.42%
2012 2.56% 1.64%
2011 2.64% 1.79%
2010 2.76% 1.63%
2009 2.73% 1.42%
2008 2.53% 1.21%
2007 2.22% 1.33%
2006 2.23% 1.23%
2005 2.73% 0.95%
2004 3.44% 1.09%
2003 4.15% 1.2%
2002 5.94% 0.97%
2001 6.08% 0.67%
2000 2.44% 0.92%
1999 0.52% 1.63%
1998 0.99% 1.97%
1997 1.3% 1.9%
1996 0.48% 1.67%
1995 0.15% 0.93%
1994 0.38% 0.12%
1993 -0.22% 1.47%
1992 -1.88% 2.86%
1991 1.18% 2.64%
1990 4.04% 2.76%
1989 2.53% 2.94%
1988 2.74% 3.21%
1987 2.72% 3.36%
1986 2.47% 3.4%
1985 2.24% 3.52%
1984 2.21% 3.62%
1983 2.16% 3.87%
1982 2.07% 3.97%
1981 2.04% 6.49%
1980 2.01% 5.92%
1979 1.97% 1.59%
1978 1.95% 1.46%
1977 1.87% 2.58%
1976 1.82% 3.09%
1975 1.86% 3.22%
1974 1.87% 3.29%
1973 1.87% 3.21%
1972 1.85% 3.12%
1971 1.88% 3.04%
1970 1.91% 3.12%
1969 1.91% 3.22%
1968 1.92% 3.2%
1967 1.9% 3.2%
1966 1.86% 3.2%
1965 1.83% 3.2%
1964 1.77% 3.2%
1963 1.71% 3.2%
1962 1.65% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Sierra Leone grew by 2.15%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Sierra Leone Zimbabwe
Current population
9049533
17361868
Population rank 101/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.11% 0.21%
One net population change
2.9 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
2.03 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
7.5 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +497 +804
Annual growth/decline +181,510 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 47/197 60/197
One migration net change every
46.6 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -11,309 -54,555
Net migration rank 136/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 49,997 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 151/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 174/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sierra Leone Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -11,309 - -54,555
2024 - -11,000 - -60,528
2023 188,788 -4,000 372,505 -97,380
2022 186,625 -4,000 371,243 -102,828
2021 183,326 -1,544 349,908 -74,623
2020 181,015 1,292 354,790 -89,440
2019 181,068 -2,238 348,798 -103,107
2018 178,772 -2,741 345,883 -117,758
2017 173,259 1,234 344,035 -128,241
2016 168,784 4,657 348,772 -140,181
2015 162,275 -356 356,203 -162,220
2014 160,137 485 366,350 -177,029
2013 161,265 2,773 374,757 -176,972
2012 160,915 988 371,135 -177,061
2011 158,858 6,895 359,572 -108,714
2010 155,338 7,983 335,570 -108,671
2009 152,669 18,145 309,316 -108,689
2008 149,855 1,182 280,527 -113,858
2007 145,740 -6,042 261,805 -118,299
2006 144,127 -34,052 248,963 -57,257
2005 137,234 -1,805 248,545 -134,212
2004 132,661 23,897 248,307 -127,550
2003 130,312 69,185 243,057 -96,667
2002 126,429 86,578 244,170 -101,212
2001 116,647 227,791 227,909 -139,361
2000 110,754 83,013 236,343 -165,181
1999 102,295 -84,926 232,393 -86,343
1998 103,906 -76,766 225,614 6,645
1997 105,433 -48,437 216,288 395
1996 104,140 -52,110 205,269 978
1995 100,885 -112,857 206,695 -45,428
1994 101,486 -77,371 216,343 -174,723
1993 103,317 -95,476 228,045 -243,947
1992 103,251 -129,565 255,291 75,788
1991 105,477 -238,965 260,943 3,749
1990 100,778 131,587 265,444 4,948
1989 98,298 -5,079 270,838 3,736
1988 96,344 9,470 277,498 11,327
1987 94,235 9,558 286,766 21,308
1986 90,902 7,992 289,894 6,154
1985 88,869 -7,873 290,756 4,718
1984 87,072 -8,708 290,052 5,124
1983 84,628 -8,783 286,545 4,456
1982 82,457 -11,379 279,934 32,899
1981 80,111 -12,699 271,361 11,523
1980 77,932 -11,641 241,179 390,593
1979 75,992 -13,095 223,657 -67,937
1978 74,130 -13,073 222,979 -170,727
1977 71,663 -12,399 225,139 -89,270
1976 69,506 -15,686 221,419 -32,495
1975 67,560 -13,058 216,947 -28,988
1974 65,357 -11,473 208,806 -16,105
1973 62,443 -9,322 201,885 -18,733
1972 60,279 -8,267 193,725 -20,959
1971 58,484 -8,162 185,427 -22,719
1970 56,513 -4,957 178,979 -24,102
1969 54,768 -4,485 172,626 -12,028
1968 53,126 -3,743 166,865 -11,997
1967 51,734 -2,819 161,205 -11,814
1966 49,486 -2,911 156,014 -11,211
1965 47,223 -1,851 151,164 -10,465
1964 45,487 -2,308 145,848 -9,631
1963 43,569 -2,480 140,984 -8,936
1962 41,603 -2,658 136,317 -8,529
1961 40,022 -2,947 131,531 -8,204
1960 38,192 -3,528 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/sierra-leone/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 49,997 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Sierra Leone, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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