GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) was 19,727 current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
19,727 current LCU
Change on year
up 22.2%
World rank
181st
of 211 countries
All-time high
19,727 current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
0.1262 current LCU
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in Sierra Leone, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp per capita in Sierra Leone is 19,727 current LCU, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 22.2% on the previous year and up 290.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Sierra Leone peaked at 19,727 current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1262 current LCU, in 1971.
Sierra Leone ranks 181st of 211 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current LCU) (UNESCO Institute) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1335 current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 0.1262 current LCU | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 0.1324 current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 0.1638 current LCU | +23.7% |
| 1974 | 0.19 current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1975 | 0.2065 current LCU | +8.7% |
| 1976 | 0.2186 current LCU | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 0.2571 current LCU | +17.6% |
| 1978 | 0.3198 current LCU | +24.4% |
| 1979 | 0.3656 current LCU | +14.3% |
| 1980 | 0.3531 current LCU | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 0.387 current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1982 | 0.4708 current LCU | +21.6% |
| 1983 | 0.5389 current LCU | +14.5% |
| 1984 | 0.767 current LCU | +42.3% |
| 1985 | 1.2 current LCU | +56.4% |
| 1986 | 2.12 current LCU | +76.4% |
| 1987 | 5.87 current LCU | +177.4% |
| 1988 | 8.72 current LCU | +48.6% |
| 1989 | 13.83 current LCU | +58.7% |
| 1990 | 23.44 current LCU | +69.5% |
| 1991 | 54.25 current LCU | +131.4% |
| 1992 | 81.51 current LCU | +50.2% |
| 1993 | 104.95 current LCU | +28.8% |
| 1994 | 128.21 current LCU | +22.2% |
| 1995 | 157.35 current LCU | +22.7% |
| 1996 | 206.48 current LCU | +31.2% |
| 1997 | 196.18 current LCU | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 244.74 current LCU | +24.8% |
| 1999 | 279.69 current LCU | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 300.73 current LCU | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 711.67 current LCU | +136.6% |
| 2002 | 816.51 current LCU | +14.7% |
| 2003 | 971.62 current LCU | +19.0% |
| 2004 | 1,128 current LCU | +16.1% |
| 2005 | 1,337 current LCU | +18.5% |
| 2006 | 1,719 current LCU | +28.6% |
| 2007 | 1,886 current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 2,103 current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 2,210 current LCU | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 2,725 current LCU | +23.3% |
| 2011 | 3,310 current LCU | +21.5% |
| 2012 | 4,073 current LCU | +23.0% |
| 2013 | 4,841 current LCU | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 5,057 current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 4,896 current LCU | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 5,311 current LCU | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 5,754 current LCU | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 6,709 current LCU | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 7,605 current LCU | +13.3% |
| 2020 | 8,316 current LCU | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 9,251 current LCU | +11.2% |
| 2022 | 12,092 current LCU | +30.7% |
| 2023 | 16,146 current LCU | +33.5% |
| 2024 | 19,727 current LCU | +22.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 19,727 current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is 591,280 current LCU, 3% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 19,727 current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 591,280 current LCU, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP per capita (current LCU) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +177.4% | 2.12 current LCU | 5.87 current LCU |
| 2001 | +136.6% | 300.73 current LCU | 711.67 current LCU |
| 1991 | +131.4% | 23.44 current LCU | 54.25 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2113 current LCU | 0.1262 current LCU | 0.3656 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.43 current LCU | 0.3531 current LCU | 13.83 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 147.68 current LCU | 23.44 current LCU | 279.69 current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,318 current LCU | 300.73 current LCU | 2,210 current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,028 current LCU | 2,725 current LCU | 7,605 current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,106 current LCU | 8,316 current LCU | 19,727 current LCU | 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 per capita in Sierra Leone?
- Gdp per capita in Sierra Leone was 19,727 current LCU in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 19,727 current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1262 current LCU in 1971.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for gdp per capita?
- Sierra Leone ranks 181st out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 290.1%. 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 per capita (current LCU). 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