GDP per capita in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: GDP per capita was 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices
World rank
147th
of 162 countries
All-time high
1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 2020
All-time low
373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
GDP per capita in Sierra Leone, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
In 2020, gdp per capita in Sierra Leone stood at 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Sierra Leone peaked at 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1870.
Sierra Leone ranks 147th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
GDP per capita in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1880 | 385.87 international-$ in 1990 prices | +3.3% |
| 1890 | 407.3 international-$ in 1990 prices | +5.6% |
| 1900 | 436.45 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.2% |
| 1913 | 440.94 international-$ in 1990 prices | +1.0% |
| 1925 | 510.4 international-$ in 1990 prices | +15.8% |
| 1929 | 468.6 international-$ in 1990 prices | -8.2% |
| 1933 | 415.88 international-$ in 1990 prices | -11.3% |
| 1938 | 543.98 international-$ in 1990 prices | +30.8% |
| 1950 | 566 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 655 international-$ in 1990 prices | +15.7% |
| 1960 | 738 international-$ in 1990 prices | +12.7% |
| 1965 | 804 international-$ in 1990 prices | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 974 international-$ in 1990 prices | +21.1% |
| 1975 | 973 international-$ in 1990 prices | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 994 international-$ in 1990 prices | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 1,010 international-$ in 1990 prices | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 1,026 international-$ in 1990 prices | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 865 international-$ in 1990 prices | -15.7% |
| 2000 | 517 international-$ in 1990 prices | -40.2% |
| 2005 | 761 international-$ in 1990 prices | +47.2% |
| 2010 | 881 international-$ in 1990 prices | +15.8% |
| 2015 | 968 international-$ in 1990 prices | +9.9% |
| 2020 | 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices | +6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices | 373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices | 373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1880s | 385.87 international-$ in 1990 prices | 385.87 international-$ in 1990 prices | 385.87 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1890s | 407.3 international-$ in 1990 prices | 407.3 international-$ in 1990 prices | 407.3 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1900s | 436.45 international-$ in 1990 prices | 436.45 international-$ in 1990 prices | 436.45 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 440.94 international-$ in 1990 prices | 440.94 international-$ in 1990 prices | 440.94 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 489.5 international-$ in 1990 prices | 468.6 international-$ in 1990 prices | 510.4 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 479.93 international-$ in 1990 prices | 415.88 international-$ in 1990 prices | 543.98 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 610.5 international-$ in 1990 prices | 566 international-$ in 1990 prices | 655 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 771 international-$ in 1990 prices | 738 international-$ in 1990 prices | 804 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 973.5 international-$ in 1990 prices | 973 international-$ in 1990 prices | 974 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 1,002 international-$ in 1990 prices | 994 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,010 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 945.5 international-$ in 1990 prices | 865 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,026 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 639 international-$ in 1990 prices | 517 international-$ in 1990 prices | 761 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 924.5 international-$ in 1990 prices | 881 international-$ in 1990 prices | 968 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 144 Zambia 1,102 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 145 Eritrea 1,093 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 146 Tanzania, United Republic of 1,038 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 148 Gambia 1,004 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 149 Chad 992.96 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 150 Libya 988.53 international-$ in 1990 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)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 21.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 196.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 21.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.26 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 4,448 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 18.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.304 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Sierra Leone?
- Gdp per capita in Sierra Leone was 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 373.52 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1870.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for gdp per capita?
- Sierra Leone ranks 147th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.