Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Imports of goods and services 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$, in 1997.
Sierra Leone ranks 158th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | 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% |
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
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 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 158th 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.
Download this data
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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.