GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 4.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Sierra Leone, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 4.0% for gdp growth in 2024.
That represents a change of down 29.9% on the previous year and up 151.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Sierra Leone peaked at 26.5% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -19.0%, in 1992.
Sierra Leone ranks 72nd of 212 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.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.6% | — |
| 1971 | 3.5% | -59.8% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | -74.0% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | +150.7% |
| 1974 | 3.5% | +55.1% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | -52.3% |
| 1976 | -0.4% | -126.9% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -110.4% |
| 1978 | 2.4% | +5054.9% |
| 1979 | 4.5% | +87.5% |
| 1980 | 4.8% | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 2.9% | -40.5% |
| 1982 | 4.8% | +66.0% |
| 1983 | -2.1% | -144.0% |
| 1984 | 4.1% | -294.6% |
| 1985 | -5.3% | -229.8% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | -123.3% |
| 1987 | 7.2% | +485.0% |
| 1988 | -7.1% | -197.9% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -110.3% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | +358.9% |
| 1991 | 2.4% | -29.8% |
| 1992 | -19.0% | -908.4% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | -107.2% |
| 1994 | -1.9% | -241.7% |
| 1995 | -8.0% | +310.8% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | -121.9% |
| 1997 | -5.9% | -435.1% |
| 1998 | 1.8% | -130.4% |
| 1999 | -2.0% | -210.9% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | -436.1% |
| 2001 | -6.3% | -195.4% |
| 2002 | 26.5% | -518.0% |
| 2003 | 9.5% | -64.2% |
| 2004 | 6.5% | -31.7% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -32.8% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | -12.5% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -58.5% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | +315.2% |
| 2011 | 8.1% | +27.5% |
| 2012 | 10.6% | +30.6% |
| 2013 | 14.7% | +38.6% |
| 2014 | -7.8% | -153.3% |
| 2015 | -4.4% | -44.2% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | -247.5% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -50.2% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | +90.2% |
| 2020 | -1.3% | -122.8% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | -570.5% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | -9.9% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | +7.5% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | -29.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 4.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.1%, 98% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 4.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.1%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +5054.9% | 0.0% | 2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.7% | -0.4% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | -7.1% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.6% | -19.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | -6.3% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | -7.8% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | -1.3% | 5.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 13,595 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.137 (2100)
- Population density 220.76 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 983,692 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Sierra Leone?
- Gdp growth in Sierra Leone was 4.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 26.5% in 2002.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -19.0% in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for gdp growth?
- Sierra Leone ranks 72nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 151.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release