Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Imports of goods and services was 28.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone, 1964–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone stood at 28.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.2% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone peaked at 39.7% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 12.4%, in 1984.
That places Sierra Leone 151st out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 29.5% | — |
| 1965 | 31.3% | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 31.6% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 31.3% | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 26.8% | -14.3% |
| 1969 | 25.2% | -6.2% |
| 1970 | 29.3% | +16.2% |
| 1971 | 32.4% | +10.6% |
| 1972 | 29.0% | -10.4% |
| 1973 | 23.4% | -19.4% |
| 1974 | 26.1% | +11.7% |
| 1975 | 34.5% | +31.9% |
| 1976 | 28.9% | -16.1% |
| 1977 | 26.7% | -7.6% |
| 1978 | 24.0% | -10.2% |
| 1979 | 27.1% | +12.8% |
| 1980 | 38.2% | +41.1% |
| 1981 | 39.7% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 25.9% | -34.7% |
| 1983 | 22.0% | -15.0% |
| 1984 | 12.4% | -43.7% |
| 1985 | 16.6% | +33.9% |
| 1986 | 15.0% | -9.6% |
| 1987 | 23.2% | +54.5% |
| 1988 | 14.4% | -37.9% |
| 1989 | 17.7% | +22.8% |
| 1990 | 34.0% | +92.4% |
| 1991 | 29.0% | -14.7% |
| 1992 | 32.9% | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 28.6% | -13.1% |
| 1994 | 25.6% | -10.2% |
| 1995 | 26.4% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 32.2% | +21.6% |
| 1997 | 15.1% | -53.1% |
| 1998 | 21.3% | +41.1% |
| 1999 | 19.9% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 39.4% | +97.8% |
| 2001 | 28.0% | -29.0% |
| 2002 | 30.2% | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 32.4% | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 29.5% | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 29.7% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 12.6% | -57.7% |
| 2007 | 12.8% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | +11.7% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | +19.9% |
| 2011 | 34.2% | +89.3% |
| 2012 | 32.8% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 34.4% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 30.9% | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 26.0% | -15.9% |
| 2016 | 29.0% | +11.4% |
| 2017 | 27.7% | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 26.1% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 27.9% | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 20.7% | -25.6% |
| 2021 | 26.6% | +28.3% |
| 2022 | 28.3% | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 34.3% | +21.4% |
| 2024 | 23.3% | -32.2% |
| 2025 | 28.2% | +21.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 28.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 29.1%, 97% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 28.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 94% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29.3% | 25.2% | 31.6% | 6 |
| 1970s | 28.1% | 23.4% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.5% | 12.4% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.5% | 15.1% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 12.6% | 39.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.7% | 18.1% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.9% | 20.7% | 34.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 148 New Caledonia 28.7% compare
- 149 Syrian Arab Republic 28.7% compare
- 150 Equatorial Guinea 28.4% compare
- 152 Saudi Arabia 28.2% compare
- 153 Ecuador 27.9% compare
- 154 Dominican Republic 27.9% 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 imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone?
- Imports of goods and services in Sierra Leone was 28.2% 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 39.7% in 1981.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.4% in 1984.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for imports of goods and services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 151st out of 193 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 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.