Trade in services (% of GDP) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Trade in services (% of GDP) was 8.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Trade in services in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trade in services 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 in Sierra Leone peaked at 24.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2020.
Sierra Leone ranks 175th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Trade in services (% 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% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 8.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 11.3%, 71% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 8.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 64% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0381 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade in services in Sierra Leone?
- Trade in services in Sierra Leone was 8.1% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest trade in services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest trade in services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2020.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for trade in services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 175th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trade in services 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 Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Trade in services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total trade in services includes services provided by residents to non-residents plus services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.