Gross domestic product (GDP) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
149th
of 184 countries
All-time high
24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2023
All-time low
2.36 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Sierra Leone, 1961–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross domestic product (gdp) in Sierra Leone is 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and up 68.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in Sierra Leone peaked at 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.36 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1961.
That places Sierra Leone 149th out of 184 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.36 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1962 | 2.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.5% |
| 1963 | 2.89 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.7% |
| 1964 | 2.98 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 3.04 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 3.09 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 2.91 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 1968 | 3.21 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.3% |
| 1969 | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 4.16 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.7% |
| 1971 | 4.24 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 4.41 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 4.57 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 4.69 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 4.67 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 4.57 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 4.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 4.76 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 4.82 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 4.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 4.98 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.4% |
| 1982 | 5.34 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 5.25 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 5.51 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 5.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 5.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 6.09 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 6.50 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 6.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 7.48 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 7.71 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 7.23 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 8.00 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.7% |
| 1994 | 8.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 8.79 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 7.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.6% |
| 1997 | 6.34 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -18.5% |
| 1998 | 5.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 4.34 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -23.5% |
| 2000 | 5.28 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.6% |
| 2001 | 5.93 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 6.93 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.0% |
| 2003 | 7.01 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 6.94 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 6.92 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 7.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 7.45 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 8.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 8.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 9.00 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 10.74 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +19.4% |
| 2012 | 11.78 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 14.32 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.5% |
| 2014 | 14.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 14.02 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 15.73 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.2% |
| 2017 | 16.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 20.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +30.1% |
| 2019 | 20.98 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 20.86 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 21.83 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 23.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.81 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 56% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.59 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 53% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.36 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.16 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.82 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.65 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.20 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.34 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.79 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.02 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.28 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 9.00 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 20.98 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.46 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 20.86 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 146 Somalia 25.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 147 Malta 24.94 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 148 Iceland 24.49 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 150 Montenegro 16.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 151 Bahamas 13.74 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 152 Burundi 13.56 billion international-$ in 2021 prices 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$), annual growth rate -12.59 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp) in Sierra Leone?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in Sierra Leone was 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 24.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.36 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Sierra Leone ranks 149th out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.