Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Imports of goods and services was 11.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone, 1968–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone stood at 11.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 61.9% on the previous year and up 147.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone peaked at 112.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -54.3%, in 1997.
Sierra Leone ranks 30th of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 16.8% | — |
| 1969 | 11.3% | -32.5% |
| 1970 | -1.5% | -113.0% |
| 1971 | -12.0% | +714.7% |
| 1972 | -12.0% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 11.3% | -194.5% |
| 1974 | -1.0% | -109.3% |
| 1975 | -22.0% | +2004.6% |
| 1976 | -5.0% | -77.4% |
| 1977 | 6.6% | -231.7% |
| 1978 | 11.3% | +71.8% |
| 1979 | 21.6% | +91.9% |
| 1980 | -24.4% | -212.7% |
| 1981 | -14.9% | -39.0% |
| 1982 | -21.7% | +46.3% |
| 1983 | -23.4% | +7.8% |
| 1984 | -12.6% | -46.0% |
| 1985 | 12.3% | -197.3% |
| 1986 | 14.0% | +13.6% |
| 1987 | -8.4% | -160.3% |
| 1988 | -9.5% | +12.5% |
| 1989 | 33.4% | -453.0% |
| 1990 | -26.8% | -180.1% |
| 1991 | 29.0% | -208.5% |
| 1992 | -8.8% | -130.4% |
| 1993 | -3.2% | -64.2% |
| 1994 | -4.1% | +29.4% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -116.8% |
| 1996 | 69.4% | +9968.3% |
| 1997 | -54.3% | -178.4% |
| 1998 | 18.6% | -134.2% |
| 1999 | -11.0% | -159.1% |
| 2000 | 57.8% | -625.5% |
| 2001 | 52.0% | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 21.8% | -58.1% |
| 2003 | 16.2% | -25.6% |
| 2004 | -5.5% | -134.2% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -176.0% |
| 2006 | -5.6% | -232.6% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -101.6% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | +10477.7% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | +146.9% |
| 2010 | 21.9% | -8.5% |
| 2011 | 112.0% | +411.6% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | -90.9% |
| 2013 | 29.1% | +185.2% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | -89.9% |
| 2015 | -24.4% | -927.3% |
| 2016 | 24.3% | -199.4% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | -69.3% |
| 2018 | -4.2% | -155.8% |
| 2019 | 7.6% | -281.8% |
| 2020 | -23.8% | -415.3% |
| 2021 | 24.0% | -200.6% |
| 2022 | 15.8% | -34.0% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | -41.3% |
| 2024 | 30.7% | +230.8% |
| 2025 | 11.7% | -61.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.0% | 11.3% | 16.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | -0.3% | -22.0% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | -5.5% | -24.4% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | -54.3% | 69.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.5% | -5.6% | 57.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | -24.4% | 112.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.3% | -23.8% | 30.7% | 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 imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone?
- Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone was 11.7% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 112.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -54.3% in 1997.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 30th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 147.9%. 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 Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.