Total debt service in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total debt service was 9.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
In 2024, total debt service in Sierra Leone stood at 9.5%.
That represents a change of down 15.6% on the previous year and up 307.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Sierra Leone peaked at 112.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2013.
Sierra Leone ranks 80th of 120 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.
Total debt service in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 10.5% | — |
| 1978 | 20.3% | +93.2% |
| 1979 | 22.2% | +9.4% |
| 1980 | 27.5% | +23.6% |
| 1981 | 37.3% | +35.8% |
| 1982 | 27.7% | -25.7% |
| 1983 | 23.7% | -14.4% |
| 1984 | 25.4% | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 14.9% | -41.5% |
| 1986 | 39.7% | +166.7% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | -77.4% |
| 1988 | 11.8% | +31.6% |
| 1989 | 4.2% | -64.5% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | +141.6% |
| 1991 | 6.8% | -32.4% |
| 1992 | 17.0% | +148.4% |
| 1993 | 17.5% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 73.0% | +317.8% |
| 1995 | 64.3% | -12.0% |
| 1996 | 59.5% | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 31.9% | -46.3% |
| 1998 | 44.5% | +39.3% |
| 1999 | 87.8% | +97.3% |
| 2000 | 76.4% | -13.0% |
| 2001 | 112.8% | +47.7% |
| 2002 | 13.5% | -88.0% |
| 2003 | 10.6% | -21.7% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | -34.4% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | +14.1% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | -63.6% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -40.5% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | +23.3% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | +30.1% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | +25.2% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -51.0% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | +50.5% |
| 2015 | 6.6% | +183.5% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -23.5% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | +37.1% |
| 2018 | 8.3% | +19.5% |
| 2019 | 10.1% | +21.3% |
| 2020 | 17.2% | +71.4% |
| 2021 | 11.4% | -33.8% |
| 2022 | 10.0% | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | +12.1% |
| 2024 | 9.5% | -15.6% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 9.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.3%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 9.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 80% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total debt service 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 | +317.8% | 17.5% | 73.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.7% | 10.5% | 22.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 22.1% | 4.2% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.2% | 6.8% | 87.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.5% | 1.7% | 112.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 1.5% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 9.5% | 17.2% | 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)
- 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 total debt service in Sierra Leone?
- Total debt service in Sierra Leone was 9.5% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 112.8% in 2001.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2013.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total debt service?
- Sierra Leone ranks 80th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 307.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.