Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP was 4.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Sierra Leone, 1980–2024
Source: World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Sierra Leone is 4.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 466.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1991.
That places Sierra Leone 63rd out of 194 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.
Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -8.8% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -21.0% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -14.5% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | +37.5% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -37.5% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | +157.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -34.5% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -26.7% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -25.0% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -14.6% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +171.3% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -22.2% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | -18.5% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | +44247.9% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -73.7% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | +329.6% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 1.1% | -66.6% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -67.1% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +205.2% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -91.3% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | +400.3% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | +141.4% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -53.0% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | +67.2% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | +14.2% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | +16.6% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -11.6% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -12.5% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -12.6% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | +34.9% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +137.5% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | +59.4% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | +11.7% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 0.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 2.6% | 4.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 983,692 people (2100)
- Population density 220.76 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Sierra Leone?
- Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp in Sierra Leone was 4.6% in 2024, according to World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1991.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp?
- Sierra Leone ranks 63rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of gdp rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 466.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank staff estimates based on IMF and OECD data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Money sent or brought back by migrants as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Money sent or brought back by migrants refers to remittances a country has received in this year.