Trade in services as share of GDP in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Trade in services as share of GDP was 8.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Trade in services as share of GDP in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trade in services as share of gdp in Sierra Leone is 8.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.6% on the previous year and down 56.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade in services as share of gdp in Sierra Leone peaked at 24.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2020.
That places Sierra Leone 173rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Trade in services as share of GDP in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 8.9% | — |
| 1978 | 7.7% | -13.4% |
| 1979 | 9.4% | +21.7% |
| 1980 | 12.2% | +30.3% |
| 1981 | 8.7% | -28.8% |
| 1982 | 7.6% | -12.9% |
| 1983 | 6.9% | -8.5% |
| 1984 | 7.5% | +9.1% |
| 1985 | 7.8% | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 11.2% | +43.2% |
| 1987 | 12.6% | +12.4% |
| 1988 | 7.9% | -37.2% |
| 1989 | 8.6% | +9.6% |
| 1990 | 20.9% | +141.6% |
| 1991 | 16.9% | -19.2% |
| 1992 | 16.2% | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 15.6% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 22.8% | +45.9% |
| 1995 | 20.5% | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 18.1% | -11.7% |
| 1997 | 9.4% | -48.3% |
| 1998 | 8.7% | -7.4% |
| 1999 | 18.4% | +112.4% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | +32.5% |
| 2001 | 9.7% | -60.3% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | -36.4% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +21.1% |
| 2004 | 6.5% | -12.6% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -42.9% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +36.1% |
| 2010 | 7.2% | +22.9% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | +66.2% |
| 2012 | 11.5% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 12.1% | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 18.8% | +54.6% |
| 2015 | 16.0% | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | -45.8% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | -11.0% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | -57.9% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | +43.1% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 6.6% | +50.5% |
| 2024 | 8.1% | +22.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.6% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 3 |
| 1980s | 9.1% | 6.9% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.7% | 8.7% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 3.8% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.9% | 7.2% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 3.3% | 8.1% | 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 475.61 constant LCU per person (2024)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 7.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.257 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 217.51 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 7.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 5.82 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4,928 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade in services as share of gdp in Sierra Leone?
- Trade in services as share of gdp in Sierra Leone was 8.1% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trade in services as share of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest trade in services as share of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2020.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for trade in services as share of gdp?
- Sierra Leone ranks 173rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trade in services as share of gdp rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Trade in services as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total services trade (exports and imports) divided by gross domestic product (GDP).