External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -7.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sierra Leone, 1964–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sierra Leone is -7.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 21.6% on the previous year and up 52.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sierra Leone peaked at 14.3% in 1988 and was at its lowest, -24.6%, in 2011.
That places Sierra Leone 122nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | -0.4% | — |
| 1965 | -2.4% | +449.9% |
| 1966 | -3.8% | +59.0% |
| 1967 | -4.2% | +10.3% |
| 1968 | -3.2% | -25.3% |
| 1969 | 2.4% | -177.0% |
| 1970 | 1.7% | -28.6% |
| 1971 | -1.1% | -164.3% |
| 1972 | -1.3% | +12.7% |
| 1973 | 1.2% | -197.9% |
| 1974 | -2.0% | -264.9% |
| 1975 | -9.4% | +359.7% |
| 1976 | -7.4% | -21.1% |
| 1977 | -7.0% | -5.1% |
| 1978 | -4.2% | -40.3% |
| 1979 | -7.2% | +71.6% |
| 1980 | -15.4% | +113.8% |
| 1981 | -16.7% | +8.9% |
| 1982 | -10.2% | -39.1% |
| 1983 | -11.0% | +7.7% |
| 1984 | -1.8% | -83.8% |
| 1985 | -1.8% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | -3.1% | +73.1% |
| 1987 | 8.8% | -383.7% |
| 1988 | 14.3% | +63.3% |
| 1989 | 6.2% | -56.4% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -89.0% |
| 1991 | 2.3% | +227.2% |
| 1992 | -1.3% | -158.1% |
| 1993 | -4.3% | +227.6% |
| 1994 | 3.9% | -189.9% |
| 1995 | -7.9% | -303.3% |
| 1996 | -14.7% | +87.3% |
| 1997 | -1.9% | -87.2% |
| 1998 | -7.2% | +283.8% |
| 1999 | -6.1% | -15.5% |
| 2000 | -21.3% | +248.9% |
| 2001 | -20.0% | -5.8% |
| 2002 | -21.6% | +7.7% |
| 2003 | -18.3% | -15.3% |
| 2004 | -12.8% | -29.9% |
| 2005 | -11.9% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | -3.1% | -74.2% |
| 2007 | -3.7% | +21.0% |
| 2008 | -5.7% | +54.4% |
| 2009 | -7.1% | +23.2% |
| 2010 | -8.2% | +15.7% |
| 2011 | -24.6% | +201.0% |
| 2012 | -12.2% | -50.4% |
| 2013 | -15.5% | +27.0% |
| 2014 | -10.7% | -31.0% |
| 2015 | -15.5% | +45.1% |
| 2016 | -14.8% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | -13.8% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | -14.9% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | -18.2% | +22.0% |
| 2020 | -10.8% | -40.4% |
| 2021 | -11.0% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | -11.5% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | -13.4% | +16.2% |
| 2024 | -6.0% | -55.0% |
| 2025 | -7.3% | +21.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.9% | -4.2% | 2.4% | 6 |
| 1970s | -3.7% | -9.4% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.1% | -16.7% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.7% | -14.7% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | -12.5% | -21.6% | -3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -14.8% | -24.6% | -8.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | -10.0% | -13.4% | -6.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More economy & growth data for Sierra Leone
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.55 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.53 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -33,272 BoP, current US$ (2010)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2010)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -0.0053 BoP, current US$ per person (2010)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 121.78 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -16.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0175 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -12.59 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sierra Leone?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Sierra Leone was -7.3% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3% in 1988.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.6% in 2011.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Sierra Leone ranks 122nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.