- Home
- Countries
- Sierra Leone
- Aid, poverty & equality
Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Sierra Leone: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 41.5% (2018), 18th of 151 in the world and 18th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 65.0% (2018), 13th of 151 in the world and 13th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 91.5% (2018), 13th of 151 in the world and 13th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
Sierra LeoneSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Food insecurity
Sierra LeoneLow incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Sierra Leone in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 41.5%2018 | 18/151 | 18/44 | · | 53.7%2011 | 41.5%2018 | −30.9 ppsince 2003 | 45.0% | 52.5% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 65.0%2018 | 13/151 | 13/44 | · | 73.3%2011 | 65.0%2018 | −18.9 ppsince 2003 | 63.2% | 70.3% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 91.5%2018 | 13/151 | 13/44 | · | 94.3%2011 | 91.5%2018 | −4.2 ppsince 2003 | 88.6% | 92.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 56.8%2018 | 7/145 | 6/45 | · | 62.4%2011 | 56.8%2018 | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 35.72018 | 69/151 | 33/44 | · | 34.02011 | 35.72018 | −11%since 2003 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 29.4%2018 | 56/151 | 28/44 | · | 26.9%2011 | 29.4%2018 | −2.5 ppsince 2003 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 7.9%2018 | 45/151 | 6/44 | · | 7.9%2011 | 7.9%2018 | +1.3 ppsince 2003 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 25.3%2024 | 14/167 | 9/44 | 50.0%2001 | 21.7% | 27.8% | +2.5 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 27.3% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 88.1%2024 | 3/155 | 3/38 | · | · | 86.7% | — | — | 65.4% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 38.6%2024 | 127/145 | 29/36 | · | 15.3%2011 | 28.8%2021 | +23.0 ppsince 2014 | 55.1% | 46.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 29.5%2025 | 80/190 | 19/46 | 8.8% | 13.2% | 12.3% | +17.1 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 24.8% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $498m2023 | 68/145 | 31/48 | $181m | $398m | $842m | +11%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $44.6bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 7.8%2023 | 32/139 | 14/47 | 29.3% | 9.5% | 12.6% | +1.5 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 8.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $58.82023 | 79/145 | 28/48 | $40.8 | $64.0 | $106 | −12%since 2013 | $51.5 | $61.4 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−30.9 pp41.5% in 2018
- Poverty, $4.20/day−18.9 pp65.0% in 2018
- Poverty, $8.30/day−4.2 pp91.5% in 2018
- Gini index−11%35.7 in 2018
Worse than ten years ago
- Undernourishment+2.5 pp25.3% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Sierra Leone and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Sierra Leone. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Sierra Leone | Guinea | Liberia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 41.5%2018 | 11.7%2018 | 33.6%2016 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 65.0%2018 | 29.2%2018 | 55.0%2016 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 91.5%2018 | 76.6%2018 | 88.3%2016 |
| National poverty rate | 56.8%2018 | 43.7%2018 | 50.9%2016 |
| Gini index | 35.72018 | 29.62018 | 35.32016 |
| Top 10% income share | 29.4%2018 | 23.1%2018 | 27.1%2016 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 7.9%2018 | 8.5%2018 | 7.2%2016 |
| Undernourishment | 25.3%2024 | 8.7%2024 | 37.3%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 88.1%2024 | — | 79.0%2024 |