External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: External balance on goods and services was -12.37 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-12.37 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 30.6%
World rank
116th
of 193 countries
All-time high
20.67 million current LCU
in 1994
All-time low
-18.26 billion current LCU
in 2023
Years of data
62
1964–2025
External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone, 1964–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone stood at -12.37 billion current LCU.
The figure is down 30.6% on the previous year and down 131.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone peaked at 20.67 million current LCU in 1994 and was at its lowest, -18.26 billion current LCU, in 2023.
That places Sierra Leone 116th out of 193 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 in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | -1,000 current LCU | — |
| 1965 | -6,200 current LCU | +520.0% |
| 1966 | -10,300 current LCU | +66.1% |
| 1967 | -10,700 current LCU | +3.9% |
| 1968 | -8,700 current LCU | -18.7% |
| 1969 | 8,300 current LCU | -195.4% |
| 1970 | 6,300 current LCU | -24.1% |
| 1971 | -3,900 current LCU | -161.9% |
| 1972 | -4,700 current LCU | +20.5% |
| 1973 | 5,800 current LCU | -223.4% |
| 1974 | -11,300 current LCU | -294.8% |
| 1975 | -57,500 current LCU | +408.8% |
| 1976 | -48,900 current LCU | -15.0% |
| 1977 | -55,600 current LCU | +13.7% |
| 1978 | -42,100 current LCU | -24.3% |
| 1979 | -84,200 current LCU | +100.0% |
| 1980 | -177,400 current LCU | +110.7% |
| 1981 | -216,100 current LCU | +21.8% |
| 1982 | -163,300 current LCU | -24.4% |
| 1983 | -205,700 current LCU | +26.0% |
| 1984 | -48,600 current LCU | -76.4% |
| 1985 | -78,000 current LCU | +60.5% |
| 1986 | -244,000 current LCU | +212.8% |
| 1987 | 1.97 million current LCU | -908.2% |
| 1988 | 4.92 million current LCU | +149.3% |
| 1989 | 3.49 million current LCU | -29.1% |
| 1990 | 678,000 current LCU | -80.6% |
| 1991 | 5.19 million current LCU | +666.1% |
| 1992 | -4.45 million current LCU | -185.7% |
| 1993 | -18.74 million current LCU | +320.9% |
| 1994 | 20.67 million current LCU | -210.3% |
| 1995 | -51.64 million current LCU | -349.8% |
| 1996 | -127.50 million current LCU | +146.9% |
| 1997 | -15.68 million current LCU | -87.7% |
| 1998 | -75.80 million current LCU | +383.5% |
| 1999 | -73.59 million current LCU | -2.9% |
| 2000 | -282.83 million current LCU | +284.3% |
| 2001 | -668.96 million current LCU | +136.5% |
| 2002 | -876.04 million current LCU | +31.0% |
| 2003 | -919.42 million current LCU | +5.0% |
| 2004 | -774.12 million current LCU | -15.8% |
| 2005 | -874.90 million current LCU | +13.0% |
| 2006 | -296.46 million current LCU | -66.1% |
| 2007 | -402.50 million current LCU | +35.8% |
| 2008 | -710.29 million current LCU | +76.5% |
| 2009 | -944.72 million current LCU | +33.0% |
| 2010 | -1.39 billion current LCU | +46.6% |
| 2011 | -5.20 billion current LCU | +275.4% |
| 2012 | -3.25 billion current LCU | -37.4% |
| 2013 | -5.03 billion current LCU | +54.7% |
| 2014 | -3.72 billion current LCU | -26.2% |
| 2015 | -5.35 billion current LCU | +43.8% |
| 2016 | -5.68 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2017 | -5.87 billion current LCU | +3.3% |
| 2018 | -7.55 billion current LCU | +28.7% |
| 2019 | -10.68 billion current LCU | +41.4% |
| 2020 | -7.12 billion current LCU | -33.3% |
| 2021 | -8.27 billion current LCU | +16.1% |
| 2022 | -11.50 billion current LCU | +39.1% |
| 2023 | -18.26 billion current LCU | +58.8% |
| 2024 | -9.47 billion current LCU | -48.1% |
| 2025 | -12.37 billion current LCU | +30.6% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's -12.37 billion current LCU is above the median for low income countries, which is -480.38 billion current LCU, 3% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's -12.37 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 18% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +908.2% | -244,000 current LCU | 1.97 million current LCU |
| 1991 | +666.1% | 678,000 current LCU | 5.19 million current LCU |
| 1965 | -520.0% | -1,000 current LCU | -6,200 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -4,767 current LCU | -10,700 current LCU | 8,300 current LCU | 6 |
| 1970s | -29,610 current LCU | -84,200 current LCU | 6,300 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 924,190 current LCU | -244,000 current LCU | 4.92 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -34.09 million current LCU | -127.50 million current LCU | 20.67 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -675.02 million current LCU | -944.72 million current LCU | -282.83 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -5.37 billion current LCU | -10.68 billion current LCU | -1.39 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -11.16 billion current LCU | -18.26 billion current LCU | -7.12 billion current LCU | 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 in Sierra Leone?
- External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone was -12.37 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 20.67 million current LCU in 1994.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -18.26 billion current LCU in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 116th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 131.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.