External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: External balance on goods and services was -545.92 million current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-545.92 million current US$
Change on year
down 30.2%
World rank
106th
of 193 countries
All-time high
151.23 million current US$
in 1988
All-time low
-1.20 billion current US$
in 2011
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 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone is -545.92 million current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 30.2% on the previous year and up 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone peaked at 151.23 million current US$ in 1988 and was at its lowest, -1.20 billion current US$, in 2011.
That places Sierra Leone 106th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | -1.63 million current US$ | — |
| 1965 | -8.68 million current US$ | +431.4% |
| 1966 | -14.42 million current US$ | +66.1% |
| 1967 | -14.77 million current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1968 | -10.44 million current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1969 | 9.96 million current US$ | -195.4% |
| 1970 | 7.56 million current US$ | -24.1% |
| 1971 | -4.69 million current US$ | -162.1% |
| 1972 | -5.87 million current US$ | +25.0% |
| 1973 | 7.10 million current US$ | -221.1% |
| 1974 | -13.21 million current US$ | -285.9% |
| 1975 | -63.60 million current US$ | +381.5% |
| 1976 | -43.94 million current US$ | -30.9% |
| 1977 | -48.50 million current US$ | +10.4% |
| 1978 | -40.21 million current US$ | -17.1% |
| 1979 | -79.66 million current US$ | +98.1% |
| 1980 | -168.99 million current US$ | +112.1% |
| 1981 | -186.44 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1982 | -131.84 million current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1983 | -109.11 million current US$ | -17.2% |
| 1984 | -19.36 million current US$ | -82.3% |
| 1985 | -15.31 million current US$ | -20.9% |
| 1986 | -15.16 million current US$ | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 57.93 million current US$ | -482.0% |
| 1988 | 151.23 million current US$ | +161.1% |
| 1989 | 58.28 million current US$ | -61.5% |
| 1990 | 4.48 million current US$ | -92.3% |
| 1991 | 17.59 million current US$ | +292.8% |
| 1992 | -8.91 million current US$ | -150.7% |
| 1993 | -33.02 million current US$ | +270.4% |
| 1994 | 35.23 million current US$ | -206.7% |
| 1995 | -68.37 million current US$ | -294.1% |
| 1996 | -138.48 million current US$ | +102.5% |
| 1997 | -15.97 million current US$ | -88.5% |
| 1998 | -48.47 million current US$ | +203.5% |
| 1999 | -40.79 million current US$ | -15.9% |
| 2000 | -135.19 million current US$ | +231.4% |
| 2001 | -336.81 million current US$ | +149.1% |
| 2002 | -417.36 million current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2003 | -391.58 million current US$ | -6.2% |
| 2004 | -286.57 million current US$ | -26.8% |
| 2005 | -302.78 million current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2006 | -100.09 million current US$ | -66.9% |
| 2007 | -134.83 million current US$ | +34.7% |
| 2008 | -238.23 million current US$ | +76.7% |
| 2009 | -279.04 million current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2010 | -348.25 million current US$ | +24.8% |
| 2011 | -1.20 billion current US$ | +243.3% |
| 2012 | -749.14 million current US$ | -37.3% |
| 2013 | -1.16 billion current US$ | +55.1% |
| 2014 | -821.65 million current US$ | -29.3% |
| 2015 | -1.05 billion current US$ | +28.2% |
| 2016 | -903.08 million current US$ | -14.2% |
| 2017 | -794.63 million current US$ | -12.0% |
| 2018 | -952.17 million current US$ | +19.8% |
| 2019 | -1.19 billion current US$ | +24.5% |
| 2020 | -724.49 million current US$ | -38.9% |
| 2021 | -791.82 million current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2022 | -818.45 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2023 | -857.12 million current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2024 | -419.25 million current US$ | -51.1% |
| 2025 | -545.92 million current US$ | +30.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's -545.92 million current US$ is above the median for low income countries, which is -1.17 billion current US$, 47% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's -545.92 million current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +482.0% | -15.16 million current US$ | 57.93 million current US$ |
| 1965 | -431.4% | -1.63 million current US$ | -8.68 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -6.66 million current US$ | -14.77 million current US$ | 9.96 million current US$ | 6 |
| 1970s | -28.50 million current US$ | -79.66 million current US$ | 7.56 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -37.88 million current US$ | -186.44 million current US$ | 151.23 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -29.67 million current US$ | -138.48 million current US$ | 35.23 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -262.25 million current US$ | -417.36 million current US$ | -100.09 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -916.50 million current US$ | -1.20 billion current US$ | -348.25 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -692.84 million current US$ | -857.12 million current US$ | -419.25 million current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 103 United States Virgin Islands -509.00 million current US$ compare
- 104 Niger -515.62 million current US$ compare
- 105 Northern Mariana Islands -533.00 million current US$ compare
- 107 Bhutan -547.93 million current US$ compare
- 108 Bahamas -581.90 million current US$ compare
- 109 Fiji -605.83 million current US$ compare
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$), annual growth rate -12.59 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone?
- External balance on goods and services in Sierra Leone was -545.92 million current US$ 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 151.23 million current US$ in 1988.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.20 billion current US$ in 2011.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 106th 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 up 48.2%. 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.