External debt stocks in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: External debt stocks was 31.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks in Sierra Leone, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks in Sierra Leone is 31.1%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 17.7% on the previous year and up 58.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Sierra Leone peaked at 229.7% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 14.4%, in 1970.
That places Sierra Leone 91st out of 122 countries with data for 2024, 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 debt stocks in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14.4% | — |
| 1971 | 27.0% | +87.6% |
| 1972 | 26.1% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 25.1% | -3.9% |
| 1974 | 30.4% | +21.0% |
| 1975 | 30.8% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 40.2% | +30.8% |
| 1977 | 43.3% | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 37.6% | -13.3% |
| 1979 | 38.9% | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 45.3% | +16.4% |
| 1981 | 55.5% | +22.6% |
| 1982 | 51.0% | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 67.3% | +32.0% |
| 1984 | 58.7% | -12.9% |
| 1985 | 86.0% | +46.6% |
| 1986 | 193.7% | +125.2% |
| 1987 | 164.2% | -15.2% |
| 1988 | 103.8% | -36.8% |
| 1989 | 123.2% | +18.7% |
| 1990 | 206.4% | +67.5% |
| 1991 | 176.7% | -14.4% |
| 1992 | 229.7% | +30.0% |
| 1993 | 214.7% | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 195.1% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 152.7% | -21.8% |
| 1996 | 136.6% | -10.5% |
| 1997 | 144.1% | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 206.2% | +43.1% |
| 1999 | 204.5% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 202.6% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 75.7% | -62.7% |
| 2002 | 73.1% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 74.8% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 81.9% | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 75.2% | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 54.7% | -27.3% |
| 2007 | 18.3% | -66.6% |
| 2008 | 17.5% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 22.6% | +29.1% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 22.6% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 22.4% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 19.8% | -11.6% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 23.3% | +19.0% |
| 2016 | 27.1% | +16.2% |
| 2017 | 31.8% | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 29.0% | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 29.9% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 32.9% | +10.1% |
| 2021 | 35.6% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 34.0% | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 37.8% | +11.1% |
| 2024 | 31.1% | -17.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 31.4% | 14.4% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.9% | 45.3% | 193.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 186.7% | 136.6% | 229.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.6% | 17.5% | 202.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.8% | 19.6% | 31.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.3% | 31.1% | 37.8% | 5 |
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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 11.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.568 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 480.73 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth -30.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth -30.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 8.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 6.69 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 5,664 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Sierra Leone?
- External debt stocks in Sierra Leone was 31.1% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 229.7% in 1992.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.4% in 1970.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for external debt stocks?
- Sierra Leone ranks 91st out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt stocks to gross national income. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.