Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) was 21.3 LCU per US$, period average in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
21.3 LCU per US$, period average
Change on year
up 51.7%
World rank
95th
of 209 countries
All-time high
21.3 LCU per US$, period average
in 2023
All-time low
0.0008 LCU per US$, period average
in 1972
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Official exchange rate in Sierra Leone, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in LCU per US$, period average.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 21.3 LCU per US$, period average for official exchange rate in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 51.7% on the previous year and up 391.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official exchange rate in Sierra Leone peaked at 21.3 LCU per US$, period average in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average, in 1972.
Sierra Leone ranks 95th of 209 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.
Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | LCU per US$, period average | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average | — |
| 1971 | 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average | -3.6% |
| 1973 | 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 0.0009 LCU per US$, period average | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 0.0009 LCU per US$, period average | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 0.0011 LCU per US$, period average | +23.3% |
| 1977 | 0.0011 LCU per US$, period average | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 0.001 LCU per US$, period average | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 0.0011 LCU per US$, period average | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 0.001 LCU per US$, period average | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 0.0012 LCU per US$, period average | +10.5% |
| 1982 | 0.0012 LCU per US$, period average | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 0.0019 LCU per US$, period average | +52.4% |
| 1984 | 0.0025 LCU per US$, period average | +32.8% |
| 1985 | 0.0051 LCU per US$, period average | +102.8% |
| 1986 | 0.0161 LCU per US$, period average | +216.1% |
| 1987 | 0.034 LCU per US$, period average | +111.6% |
| 1988 | 0.0325 LCU per US$, period average | -4.5% |
| 1989 | 0.0598 LCU per US$, period average | +84.0% |
| 1990 | 0.1515 LCU per US$, period average | +153.2% |
| 1991 | 0.2953 LCU per US$, period average | +95.0% |
| 1992 | 0.4994 LCU per US$, period average | +69.1% |
| 1993 | 0.5675 LCU per US$, period average | +13.6% |
| 1994 | 0.5867 LCU per US$, period average | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 0.7552 LCU per US$, period average | +28.7% |
| 1996 | 0.9207 LCU per US$, period average | +21.9% |
| 1997 | 0.9815 LCU per US$, period average | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1.56 LCU per US$, period average | +59.3% |
| 1999 | 1.8 LCU per US$, period average | +15.4% |
| 2000 | 2.09 LCU per US$, period average | +16.0% |
| 2001 | 1.99 LCU per US$, period average | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 2.1 LCU per US$, period average | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 2.35 LCU per US$, period average | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 2.7 LCU per US$, period average | +15.0% |
| 2005 | 2.89 LCU per US$, period average | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 2.96 LCU per US$, period average | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 2.99 LCU per US$, period average | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 2.98 LCU per US$, period average | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 3.39 LCU per US$, period average | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 3.98 LCU per US$, period average | +17.5% |
| 2011 | 4.35 LCU per US$, period average | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 4.34 LCU per US$, period average | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 4.33 LCU per US$, period average | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 4.52 LCU per US$, period average | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 5.08 LCU per US$, period average | +12.3% |
| 2016 | 6.29 LCU per US$, period average | +23.8% |
| 2017 | 7.38 LCU per US$, period average | +17.4% |
| 2018 | 7.93 LCU per US$, period average | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 9.01 LCU per US$, period average | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 9.83 LCU per US$, period average | +9.1% |
| 2021 | 10.44 LCU per US$, period average | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 14.05 LCU per US$, period average | +34.6% |
| 2023 | 21.3 LCU per US$, period average | +51.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 21.3 LCU per US$, period average is below the median for low income countries, which is 606.35 LCU per US$, period average, 4% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 21.3 LCU per US$, period average is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 606.35 LCU per US$, period average, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +216.1% | 0.0051 LCU per US$, period average | 0.0161 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1990 | +153.2% | 0.0598 LCU per US$, period average | 0.1515 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1987 | +111.6% | 0.0161 LCU per US$, period average | 0.034 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1985 | +102.8% | 0.0025 LCU per US$, period average | 0.0051 LCU per US$, period average |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0009 LCU per US$, period average | 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average | 0.0011 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0155 LCU per US$, period average | 0.001 LCU per US$, period average | 0.0598 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8126 LCU per US$, period average | 0.1515 LCU per US$, period average | 1.8 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.64 LCU per US$, period average | 1.99 LCU per US$, period average | 3.39 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.72 LCU per US$, period average | 3.98 LCU per US$, period average | 9.01 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.91 LCU per US$, period average | 9.83 LCU per US$, period average | 21.3 LCU per US$, period average | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 92 Honduras 24.8 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 93 Czechia 23.22 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 94 Sao Tome and Principe 22.66 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 96 Lesotho 18.33 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 96 Namibia 18.33 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 96 South Africa 18.33 LCU per US$, period average compare
More population data for Sierra Leone
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.21 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 13,595 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.9 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.137 (2100)
- Population density 220.76 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 983,692 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is official exchange rate in Sierra Leone?
- Official exchange rate in Sierra Leone was 21.3 LCU per US$, period average in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest official exchange rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3 LCU per US$, period average in 2023.
- What is the lowest official exchange rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0008 LCU per US$, period average in 1972.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for official exchange rate?
- Sierra Leone ranks 95th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is official exchange rate rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 391.7%. 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 Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release