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Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Sierra Leone: trade and investment
Exports is 20.9% (2025), 146th of 184 in the world and 29th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 28.2% (2025), 142nd of 184 in the world and 29th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 49.1% (2025), 147th of 184 in the world and 28th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 20.9%2025 | 146/184 | 29/43 | 18.1% | 9.9% | 9.9% | +10.4 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 23.6% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 28.2%2025 | 142/184 | 29/43 | 39.4% | 18.1% | 20.7% | +2.2 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 33.9% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 49.1%2025 | 147/184 | 28/43 | 57.5% | 28.0% | 30.6% | +12.6 ppsince 2015 | 55.7% | 47.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -14.1%2024 | 168/185 | 40/42 | -17.7% | -13.7% | -5.8% | −8.0 ppsince 2014 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $1.5bn2025 | 151/206 | 35/48 | $13.0m | $341m | $423m | +200%since 2015 | $487bn | $107bn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 0.7%2018 | — | — | · | · | 0.7%2018 | — | 6.0% | 2.1% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.1%2018 | — | — | · | · | 0.1%2018 | — | 40.9% | 8.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 45.6%2018 | — | — | 18.9% | · | 45.6%2018 | −46.0 ppsince 2002 | 14.6% | 38.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 13.7%2022 | 15/184 | 8/45 | · | 10.3% | 14.1% | +3.3 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 2.4%2025 | 90/197 | 20/46 | 6.1% | 5.6% | 0.8% | −1.3 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 4.6%2024 | 57/178 | 13/41 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 2.6% | +3.8 ppsince 2014 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 71,0002019 | 176/196 | 37/42 | · | 75,0002012 | 71,0002019 | — | 56.0m | 17.4m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $39.0m2018 | 160/177 | 31/40 | $10.0m | $26.0m | $39.0m2018 | +15%since 2008 | $34.9bn | $11.8bn | $1.9tn |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 20.9%2025 | 41.4%2025 | — |
| Imports | 28.2%2025 | 62.3%2025 | — |
| Trade openness | 49.1%2025 | 103.7%2025 | — |
| Current account | -14.1%2024 | -1.6%2024 | 2.5%2024 |
| Merchandise exports | $1.5bn2025 | $15.1bn2025 | $2.1bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 0.7%2018 | 0.9%2016 | 0.6%2023 |
| Fuel exports | 0.1%2018 | 0.5%2016 | 1.8%2023 |
| Food exports | 45.6%2018 | 4.3%2016 | 24.5%2023 |
| Average tariff | 13.7%2022 | 12.6%2022 | 6.2%2022 |