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Sierra Leone

SL · currency SLE (Sierra Leonean leone)

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Overview

Coverage: 39 of 40 annual indicators reported, latest years 2018–2026. Gaps read “not available” (source has no figure) or “not yet covered” (not yet collected), never zero.

Currencies & Rates

Official and market exchange rates, policy rates, government yields, bank rates, reserves and stock indices.

Exchange rates

SLE per US$1. Official and market rates are separate series and are never blended.
SeriesRateAs ofSource
Official rate not yet covered
Parallel-market rate (USDT peer-to-peer median) parallel 24.60 8 Oct 2026, 06:35 UTC Binance P2P
Market premium% by which the market rate exceeds the official rate not yet covered — needs both an official and a market rate

Official rate, 10-year annual average (SLE per US$1, World Bank)

4.512.8212014201820202023

Policy rate

not yet covered

Government securities yields

% yield at the latest auction for each tenor. Tenors up to 364 days are Treasury bills; longer tenors are bonds. yield Source: BSL

182-day 13.21%15 Jun 2026
364-day 17.07%15 Jun 2026

Steep — 364-day above 182-day.

as of 15 Jun 2026

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Sierra Leone · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
FX reserves Current US$, total reserves including gold includes gold $433.3M 2024 ↓ $167.5M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Lending rate % per year, average bank lending rate 21.4% 2025 ↑ 2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Deposit rate % per year, average bank deposit rate 7% 2025 ↑ 0.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (3)

FX reserves

$433.3M · 2024

$430M$690M$950M201420162018202020222024

↓ $167.5M since 2014

Lending rate

21.4% · 2025

15%18%21%201520172019202120232025

↑ 2 pts since 2014

Deposit rate

7% · 2025

4.4%5.7%7%201520172019202120232025

↑ 0.4 pts since 2014

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Economy & Prices

Output, growth, inflation, jobs, investment, the structure of the economy and minimum wages.

Inflation % change from a year earlier

SeriesYear on yearPeriodSource
Headline consumer prices 14.89% Jul 2026 National statistics office

Checked 12 Sep 2026, 20:22 UTC

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Sierra Leone · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
GDP Current US$ $7.5B 2025 ↓ $222M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
GDP growth % change, real (inflation-adjusted) 4.6% 2025 ↑ 12.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
GDP per capita (PPP) Current international $ per person, PPP $3,717 2025 ↑ $954.85 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
GDP per capita growth % change per person, real 2.5% 2025 ↑ 12.5 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Unemployment % of labour force ILO modeled estimate — national definitions differ 3.1% 2025 ↓ 1.5 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Investment rate Gross fixed capital formation, % of GDP 23.2% 2025 ↑ 7.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Agriculture share of GDP Agriculture value added, % of GDP 29.5% 2025 ↓ 2.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Manufacturing share of GDP Manufacturing value added, % of GDP 7% 2024 ↑ 1.7 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Services share of GDP Services value added, % of GDP 41.6% 2025 ↓ 0.2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (9)

GDP

$7.5B · 2025

$5.7B$6.6B$7.5B201520172019202120232025

↓ $222M since 2014

GDP growth

4.6% · 2025

-5%0%7%201520172019202120232025

↑ 12.4 pts since 2014

GDP per capita (PPP)

$3,717 · 2025

$2,500$3,100$3,700201520172019202120232025

↑ $954.85 since 2014

GDP per capita growth

2.5% · 2025

-7%0%4%201520172019202120232025

↑ 12.5 pts since 2014

Unemployment

3.1% · 2025

3%3.8%4.5%201520172019202120232025

↓ 1.5 pts since 2014

Investment rate

23.2% · 2025

15%19%23%201520172019202120232025

↑ 7.4 pts since 2014

Agriculture share of GDP

29.5% · 2025

29%32%35%201520172019202120232025

↓ 2.4 pts since 2014

Manufacturing share of GDP

7% · 2024

5.2%6.5%7.7%201420162018202020222024

↑ 1.7 pts since 2014

Services share of GDP

41.6% · 2025

41%43.5%46%201520172019202120232025

↓ 0.2 pts since 2014

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Public Finance & Debt

Government revenue, budget balance, public and external debt, debt service and sovereign credit ratings.

Sovereign credit ratings

No published sovereign rating recorded

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Sierra Leone · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Government revenue / GDP General government revenue, % of GDP 2026 is an IMF projection (forecast) for the year in progress when fetched, not a reported outturn. 13.7% 2026 ↑ 2.9 pts since 2014 IMF DataMapper CSV Rank Compare
Budget balance / GDP General government net lending/borrowing, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates -2.2% 2026 ↑ 0.6 pts since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV Rank Compare
Debt to GDP General government gross debt, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates 44.3% 2026 ↑ 17.5 pts since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV Rank Compare
Gross debt (national currency) General government gross debt, local currency Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates SLE 85.7T 2026 ↑ SLE 77.8T since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV
External debt Total external debt stocks, current US$ $2.3B 2024 ↑ $896.5M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Debt service / exports Total debt service, % of exports and primary income 9.5% 2024 ↑ 7.2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (6)

Government revenue / GDP

13.7% · 2026

9.3%11.7%14%201620182020202220242026

↑ 2.9 pts since 2014

Budget balance / GDP

-2.2% · 2026

-6%-4%-2%20142017202020232026

↑ 0.6 pts since 2014

Debt to GDP

44.3% · 2026

26%40%54%20142017202020232026

↑ 17.5 pts since 2014

Gross debt (national currency)

SLE 85.7T · 2026

SLE 7.9TSLE 47.0TSLE 86.0T20142017202020232026

↑ SLE 77.8T since 2014

External debt

$2.3B · 2024

$1.4B$1.9B$2.5B201420162018202020222024

↑ $896.5M since 2014

Debt service / exports

9.5% · 2024

2.3%9.7%17%201420162018202020222024

↑ 7.2 pts since 2014

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Trade & Resources

Exports, imports, trade partners and products, investment and remittance flows, oil and commodities.

Trade profile

Goods and services, current US$
FlowLatestChange
Exports $1.6B · 2024 ↑ $94.5M since 2014
Imports $2.9B · 2024 ↑ $40M since 2014
Balance derived −$1.3B · 2024 ↑ $54.5M since 2014
Show trade trend charts (3)

Exports

$1.6B · 2024

$560M$1.1B$1.6B201420162018202020222024

↑ $94.5M since 2014

Imports

$2.9B · 2024

$1.3B$2.1B$2.9B201420162018202020222024

↑ $40M since 2014

Balance

−$1.3B · 2024

$-1.5B$-1.1B$-630M201420162018202020222024

↑ $54.5M since 2014

Top exports · 2018

Products

  1. Fish and crustaceans$42M · 20.5%
  2. Ores, slag and ash$32.2M · 15.7%
  3. Cocoa and cocoa preparations$22.3M · 10.9%
  4. Wood and wood articles$20.3M · 9.9%
  5. Vehicles other than railway$20.2M · 9.8%
Show all 10 products
  1. Machinery and mechanical appliances$12.6M · 6.1%
  2. Animal or vegetable fats and oils$11.6M · 5.6%
  3. Explosives, matches$5.5M · 2.7%
  4. Preparations of vegetables and fruit$5.1M · 2.5%
  5. Salt, earths, stone, cement$4.9M · 2.4%

Partners

  1. China$37.5M · 18.3%
  2. South Korea$28.7M · 14.0%
  3. Netherlands$27.8M · 13.5%
  4. Somalia$22.2M · 10.8%
  5. Ghana$16.5M · 8.0%
Show all 10 partners
  1. Romania$16M · 7.8%
  2. Germany$10.9M · 5.3%
  3. Guinea$9.2M · 4.5%
  4. Senegal$6.1M · 3.0%
  5. Côte d'Ivoire$3.9M · 1.9%

Top imports · 2018

Products

  1. Cereals$153M · 15.5%
  2. Machinery and mechanical appliances$111.8M · 11.3%
  3. Vehicles other than railway$92.7M · 9.4%
  4. Electrical machinery and equipment$62.9M · 6.4%
  5. Plastics$56.4M · 5.7%
Show all 10 products
  1. Articles of iron or steel$48.5M · 4.9%
  2. Salt, earths, stone, cement$45.8M · 4.6%
  3. Iron and steel$34.6M · 3.5%
  4. Pharmaceutical products$24.2M · 2.4%
  5. Milling products$23.7M · 2.4%

Partners

  1. China$198M · 20.1%
  2. United Arab Emirates$82.6M · 8.4%
  3. Belgium$74.5M · 7.5%
  4. India$71.1M · 7.2%
  5. United States$53.1M · 5.4%
Show all 10 partners
  1. Türkiye$51M · 5.2%
  2. South Africa$45.8M · 4.6%
  3. Pakistan$36.5M · 3.7%
  4. United Kingdom$33M · 3.3%
  5. Guinea$29.6M · 3.0%

2025 filings are still arriving — this page updates as each country reports

Commodity exposure for Sierra Leone →

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Sierra Leone · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Exports of goods and services Goods and services, current US$ $1.6B 2024 ↑ $94.5M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Exports per capita derived Current US$ per person (derived) $184.88 2024 ↓ $33.73 since 2014 Derived from World Bank series on this page CSV Rank Compare
Current account / GDP Current-account balance, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates -3.3% 2026 ↑ 4 pts since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV Rank Compare
FDI inflows Foreign direct investment, net inflows, current US$ $121.8M 2024 ↓ $253.3M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Remittances Personal remittances received, current US$ $320.8M 2024 ↑ $258.4M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Terms of trade Net barter terms of trade, index (2015 = 100) 103.00 2024 ↓ 16.90 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Tourist arrivals International tourist arrivals per year 71,000 2019 ↑ 18,000 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (7)

Exports of goods and services

$1.6B · 2024

$560M$1.1B$1.6B201420162018202020222024

↑ $94.5M since 2014

Exports per capita

$184.88 · 2024

$70$145$220201420162018202020222024

↓ $33.73 since 2014

Current account / GDP

-3.3% · 2026

-15%-9.2%-3.3%20142017202020232026

↑ 4 pts since 2014

FDI inflows

$121.8M · 2024

$51M$230.5M$410M201420162018202020222024

↓ $253.3M since 2014

Remittances

$320.8M · 2024

$48M$184M$320M201420162018202020222024

↑ $258.4M since 2014

Terms of trade

103.00 · 2024

100.00110.00120.00201420162018202020222024

↓ 16.90 since 2014

Tourist arrivals

71,000 · 2019

31,00051,00071,000201420152016201720182019

↑ 18,000 since 2014

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People & Society

Population, health, education, poverty and inequality, access to services and democracy.

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Sierra Leone · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Population People, total 8.8M 2025 ↑ 1.9M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Median age Years 19.3 years 2023 ↑ 1.8 years since 2014 UN WPP 2024, via Our World in Data CSV
Life expectancy Years at birth 62 years 2024 ↑ 7.7 years since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Child mortality Under-5 deaths per 1,000 live births 90.5 per 1,000 2024 ↓ 45.4 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Health expenditure Current health spending, % of GDP 4.7% 2023 ↓ 10.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Physicians Per 1,000 people 0.1 per 1,000 2022 ↑ 0.1 since 2018 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Adult literacy % of people aged 15 and over 43.6% 2019 ↓ 0.8 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Poverty ($3/day) % of people below $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 41.5% 2018 — World Bank CSV Rank Compare
National poverty line % of people below the national poverty line 56.8% 2018 — World Bank CSV
Gini index Income inequality, 0 (equal) to 100 35.70 2018 — World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Electricity access % of population 39.2% 2024 ↑ 20.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Internet users % of population using the internet 25.1% 2024 ↑ 19 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Account ownership % of people aged 15+ with an account Findex · every 3–4 years 38.6% 2024 ↑ 23 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Electoral democracy V-Dem electoral democracy index, 0 to 1 0.47 2025 ↓ 0.04 since 2014 V-Dem Institute CSV Rank Compare

Not available for Sierra Leone: Tertiary enrollment.

Show trend charts (14)

Population

8.8M · 2025

7M7.9M8.8M201520172019202120232025

↑ 1.9M since 2014

Median age

19.3 years · 2023

1718192014201820202023

↑ 1.8 years since 2014

Life expectancy

62 years · 2024

545862201420162018202020222024

↑ 7.7 years since 2014

Child mortality

90.5 per 1,000 · 2024

90115140201420162018202020222024

↓ 45.4 since 2014

Health expenditure

4.7% · 2023

4.7%9.8%15%2014201820202023

↓ 10.4 pts since 2014

Physicians

0.1 per 1,000 · 2022

0.0330.08150.1320182019202020212022

↑ 0.1 since 2018

Adult literacy

43.6% · 2019

43%46%49%201420152016201720182019

↓ 0.8 pts since 2014

Poverty ($3/day)

41.5% · 2018

2018

National poverty line

56.8% · 2018

2018

Gini index

35.70 · 2018

2018

Electricity access

39.2% · 2024

18%28.5%39%201420162018202020222024

↑ 20.4 pts since 2014

Internet users

25.1% · 2024

6%15.5%25%201420162018202020222024

↑ 19 pts since 2014

Account ownership

38.6% · 2024

15%27%39%201420162018202020222024

↑ 23 pts since 2014

Electoral democracy

0.47 · 2025

0.470.520.57201520172019202120232025

↓ 0.04 since 2014

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Downloads

Each indicator row above has its own CSV link. Every file starts with its source, source URL and page link. All downloads

All 43 CSV files for Sierra Leone

Currencies & Rates

Economy & Prices

Public Finance & Debt

Trade & Resources

People & Society

From the magazine