Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) was 51.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP in Sierra Leone, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sierra Leone is 51.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sierra Leone peaked at 51.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 2001.
Sierra Leone ranks 118th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25.5% | — |
| 2001 | 12.5% | -50.7% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | +29.0% |
| 2003 | 18.4% | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 19.0% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 19.0% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 18.0% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | +37.2% |
| 2011 | 42.5% | +63.1% |
| 2012 | 44.4% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 49.3% | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 40.6% | -17.6% |
| 2015 | 30.1% | -25.9% |
| 2016 | 27.8% | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | +16.8% |
| 2018 | 29.9% | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 32.8% | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 38.4% | +17.3% |
| 2021 | 34.9% | -9.2% |
| 2022 | 42.5% | +21.8% |
| 2023 | 50.7% | +19.2% |
| 2024 | 51.4% | +1.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 51.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 38.8%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 51.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.1%, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.6% | 12.5% | 25.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.6% | 26.1% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.6% | 34.9% | 51.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More economy & growth data for Sierra Leone
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -24.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sierra Leone?
- Merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp in Sierra Leone was 51.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 51.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 2001.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp?
- Sierra Leone ranks 118th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is merchandise trade as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Merchandise trade as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).