Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) was 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ for imports of goods and services in 2024. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is up 31.1% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone peaked at 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 119.69 million BoP, current US$, in 1997.
Sierra Leone ranks 159th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 215.70 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 309.16 million BoP, current US$ | +43.3% |
| 1979 | 408.90 million BoP, current US$ | +32.3% |
| 1980 | 471.23 million BoP, current US$ | +15.2% |
| 1981 | 341.64 million BoP, current US$ | -27.5% |
| 1982 | 332.94 million BoP, current US$ | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 175.09 million BoP, current US$ | -47.4% |
| 1984 | 197.29 million BoP, current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1985 | 184.07 million BoP, current US$ | -6.7% |
| 1986 | 145.37 million BoP, current US$ | -21.0% |
| 1987 | 156.82 million BoP, current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 172.78 million BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 205.14 million BoP, current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1990 | 214.84 million BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 202.39 million BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1992 | 201.89 million BoP, current US$ | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 248.65 million BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1994 | 296.29 million BoP, current US$ | +19.2% |
| 1995 | 259.97 million BoP, current US$ | -12.3% |
| 1996 | 334.18 million BoP, current US$ | +28.5% |
| 1997 | 119.69 million BoP, current US$ | -64.2% |
| 1998 | 128.05 million BoP, current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 187.71 million BoP, current US$ | +46.6% |
| 2000 | 249.76 million BoP, current US$ | +33.1% |
| 2001 | 276.03 million BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 335.70 million BoP, current US$ | +21.6% |
| 2003 | 404.49 million BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2004 | 358.73 million BoP, current US$ | -11.3% |
| 2005 | 453.03 million BoP, current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2006 | 435.18 million BoP, current US$ | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 489.75 million BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2008 | 592.17 million BoP, current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2009 | 749.61 million BoP, current US$ | +26.6% |
| 2010 | 1.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.1% |
| 2011 | 2.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +119.3% |
| 2012 | 2.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 2.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 2.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.1% |
| 2015 | 2.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.4% |
| 2016 | 1.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.2% |
| 2017 | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 1.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 1.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2020 | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.6% |
| 2021 | 1.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.1% |
| 2022 | 2.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 2.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.97 billion BoP, current US$, 49% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.19 billion BoP, current US$, 47% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 311.25 million BoP, current US$ | 215.70 million BoP, current US$ | 408.90 million BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 238.24 million BoP, current US$ | 145.37 million BoP, current US$ | 471.23 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 219.37 million BoP, current US$ | 119.69 million BoP, current US$ | 334.18 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 434.45 million BoP, current US$ | 249.76 million BoP, current US$ | 749.61 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 156 San Marino 3.14 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 157 Niger 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 158 Eswatini 2.93 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 160 Curacao 2.76 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 161 Bermuda 2.59 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 162 Seychelles 2.58 billion BoP, 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -18.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0324 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 27.41 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -22.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0236 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 20.01 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0381 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone?
- Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone was 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2.91 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 119.69 million BoP, current US$ in 1997.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 159th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$). 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 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.