Short-term debt in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Short-term debt was 40.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Sierra Leone, 1970–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 40.1% for short-term debt in 2024.
That represents a change of up 25.5% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Sierra Leone peaked at 2,733.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1970.
That places Sierra Leone 39th out of 111 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Short-term debt in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1971 | 0.0% | — |
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.4% | — |
| 1975 | 6.1% | +1554.5% |
| 1976 | 14.5% | +135.8% |
| 1977 | 13.5% | -6.9% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | -79.6% |
| 1979 | 12.5% | +357.3% |
| 1980 | 22.8% | +81.8% |
| 1981 | 53.4% | +134.1% |
| 1982 | 148.2% | +177.6% |
| 1983 | 106.6% | -28.1% |
| 1984 | 215.3% | +101.9% |
| 1985 | 259.8% | +20.7% |
| 1986 | 135.3% | -47.9% |
| 1987 | 520.9% | +285.0% |
| 1988 | 755.3% | +45.0% |
| 1989 | 2,558.5% | +238.8% |
| 1990 | 2,733.5% | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 2,127.6% | -22.2% |
| 1992 | 713.2% | -66.5% |
| 1993 | 526.8% | -26.1% |
| 1994 | 39.7% | -92.5% |
| 1995 | 77.6% | +95.4% |
| 1996 | 91.2% | +17.6% |
| 1997 | 24.6% | -73.0% |
| 1998 | 68.4% | +178.3% |
| 1999 | 87.3% | +27.5% |
| 2000 | 94.1% | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 37.5% | -60.1% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | -67.3% |
| 2003 | 25.2% | +105.7% |
| 2004 | 17.2% | -31.8% |
| 2005 | 12.4% | -27.7% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -47.7% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -64.0% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | +74.9% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +38.9% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -82.3% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +691.7% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | +480.1% |
| 2013 | 40.1% | -13.2% |
| 2014 | 35.6% | -11.4% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 40.4% | +9.4% |
| 2017 | 35.5% | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 37.6% | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 35.2% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 26.0% | -26.1% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | -24.3% |
| 2022 | 25.9% | +31.5% |
| 2023 | 32.0% | +23.6% |
| 2024 | 40.1% | +25.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.0% | 0.0% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 477.6% | 22.8% | 2,558.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 649.0% | 24.6% | 2,733.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.7% | 2.3% | 94.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.7% | 1.0% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.7% | 19.7% | 40.1% | 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 short-term debt in Sierra Leone?
- Short-term debt in Sierra Leone was 40.1% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2,733.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1970.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for short-term debt?
- Sierra Leone ranks 39th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of total reserves). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Total reserves includes gold.