Real gdp growth in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Real gdp growth was 4.29 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Real gdp growth in Sierra Leone, 1980–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for real gdp growth in Sierra Leone is 4.29, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 24.8% on the previous year and up 790.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real gdp growth in Sierra Leone peaked at 26.43 in 2002 and was at its lowest, -24.79, in 1996.
Sierra Leone ranks 66th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Real gdp growth in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -0.56 | — |
| 1981 | 1.88 | -435.4% |
| 1982 | 1.78 | -5.2% |
| 1983 | -1.58 | -188.5% |
| 1984 | 1.7 | -207.9% |
| 1985 | -6.74 | -496.5% |
| 1986 | 0.132 | -102.0% |
| 1987 | 2.38 | +1704.5% |
| 1988 | 2.06 | -13.6% |
| 1989 | 4.95 | +140.6% |
| 1990 | 1.61 | -67.5% |
| 1991 | -7.99 | -596.2% |
| 1992 | -9.65 | +20.7% |
| 1993 | 0.054 | -100.6% |
| 1994 | 3.5 | +6381.5% |
| 1995 | -10.03 | -386.4% |
| 1996 | -24.79 | +147.3% |
| 1997 | -17.6 | -29.0% |
| 1998 | -0.837 | -95.2% |
| 1999 | -8.12 | +870.4% |
| 2000 | 3.81 | -146.9% |
| 2001 | 18.17 | +377.3% |
| 2002 | 26.43 | +45.4% |
| 2003 | 10.3 | -61.0% |
| 2004 | 7.81 | -24.2% |
| 2005 | 6.72 | -13.9% |
| 2006 | 4.59 | -31.6% |
| 2007 | 3.73 | -18.8% |
| 2008 | 3.85 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 1.31 | -65.9% |
| 2010 | 10.08 | +667.5% |
| 2011 | 7.11 | -29.5% |
| 2012 | 6.75 | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 9.43 | +39.8% |
| 2014 | -0.622 | -106.6% |
| 2015 | -3.08 | +395.7% |
| 2016 | 4.67 | -251.6% |
| 2017 | 3.94 | -15.7% |
| 2018 | 3.4 | -13.6% |
| 2019 | 5.5 | +61.6% |
| 2020 | -1.25 | -122.8% |
| 2021 | 5.9 | -570.6% |
| 2022 | 5.31 | -9.9% |
| 2023 | 5.71 | +7.5% |
| 2024 | 4.29 | -24.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 4.29 is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.56, 94% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 4.29 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Real gdp growth in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +6381.5% | 0.054 | 3.5 |
| 1987 | +1704.5% | 0.132 | 2.38 |
| 1999 | -870.4% | -0.837 | -8.12 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.6006 | -6.74 | 4.95 | 10 |
| 1990s | -7.38 | -24.79 | 3.5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.67 | 1.31 | 26.43 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.72 | -3.08 | 10.08 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.99 | -1.25 | 5.9 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 64 Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of 4.33 compare
- 65 Madagascar, Republic of 4.32 compare
- 67 Samoa 4.2 compare
- 68 Azerbaijan, Republic of 4.16 compare
- 69 Burundi 4.15 compare
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 real gdp growth in Sierra Leone?
- Real gdp growth in Sierra Leone was 4.29 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest real gdp growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 26.43 in 2002.
- What is the lowest real gdp growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.79 in 1996.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for real gdp growth?
- Sierra Leone ranks 66th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is real gdp growth rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 790.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Real gdp growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).