Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Sierra Leone: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
Sierra Leone is placed 163rd of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 3,176 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 17.56 (2025).
Share
Economy & Innovation
163rd
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 3,176GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 17.56Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- —Economic Complexity Index, 2024No reading for this country
- 38.62Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Sierra Leone on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
3,176
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
Sierra Leone: 3,176. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Western Africa
- 10,396 Cabo Verde
- Land neighbours
- Guinea 4,217 · Liberia 1,693
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Sierra Leone’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
17.56
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
Sierra Leone: 17.56. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Western Africa
- 47.24 Togo
- Land neighbours
- Guinea 4.897 · Liberia 38.4
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
No reading
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Growth Lab at Harvard University publishes no 2024 figure for Sierra Leone, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Western Africa
- -0.507 Senegal
- Land neighbours
- Guinea -1.793 · Liberia -2.284
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
38.62
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
Sierra Leone: 38.62. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Western Africa
- 81.24 Ghana
- Land neighbours
- Guinea 36.05 · Liberia 52.21
02Over time
Which way Sierra Leone is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
Sierra LeoneWorld median
Sierra Leone rose from 1,982 in 2000 to 3,176 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year Sierra Leone World median 2025 3,176.2 17,265 2024 3,098.8 18,108 2023 3,034.9 17,686 2022 2,934.7 16,933 2021 2,849.4 16,260 2020 2,752.6 15,631 2019 2,852.7 16,761 2018 2,767.4 16,349 2017 2,753.4 16,129 2016 2,732.3 15,512 2015 2,628.2 14,857 2014 2,812.5 14,475 2013 3,124.7 14,681 2012 2,792.9 14,631 2011 2,590.5 13,916 2010 2,459.8 14,101 2009 2,376.6 13,655 2008 2,404.7 14,030 2007 2,377.8 13,755 2006 2,342.8 12,983 2005 2,296.7 12,023 2004 2,260.8 11,608 2003 2,196.3 11,183 2002 2,089.3 11,144 2001 1,749.4 10,907 2000 1,981.5 10,589 Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+) · higher is better
Sierra LeoneWorld median
Sierra Leone rose from 15.34 in 2011 to 38.62 in 2024; the world median went from 37.03 to 72.83.
Every year’s figures
Year Sierra Leone World median 2024 39 73 2021 29 74 2017 20 59 2014 16 52 2011 15 37
03In context
Sierra Leone beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
Sierra Leone and the countries it borders
Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Liberia | 144th | 1,693 | 38.4 | -2.284 | 52.21 |
| Sierra Leone | 163rd | 3,176 | 17.56 | — | 38.62 |
 Guinea | 170th | 4,217 | 4.897 | -1.793 | 36.05 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below Sierra Leone in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Sierra Leone is ahead of the world, and behind
49 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Sierra Leone does better than the middle country measured.
Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3963.4852.39No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 63.48 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.
Position 19th of 169 · derived.
Interest Payments on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.4510.4831.451▼ Worsened since 2014
Sierra Leone: 0.483 · world median 1.451 · Interest payments on external debt (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.069 to 17.92; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 112 · derived, 1st = worst.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9431.1343.94▼ Worsened since 2014
Sierra Leone: 31.13 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 110 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3964.6093.396▲ Improved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 4.609 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 186 · derived.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.939.4912.93▼ Worsened since 2014
Sierra Leone: 9.49 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 74th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.130.716.1▲ Improved since 2013
Sierra Leone: 30.7 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.
Behind the world median20
Statistics on which Sierra Leone does worse than the middle country measured.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23105.75106.23▼ Worsened since 2012
Sierra Leone: 105.75 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 100th of 195 · derived.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08104.72106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
Sierra Leone: 104.72 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 108th of 195 · derived.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06101.8107.06▼ Worsened since 2012
Sierra Leone: 101.8 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 127th of 194 · derived.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2127.2756.21▲ Improved since 2016
Sierra Leone: 27.27 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 121st of 175 by UNCTAD.
Total Factor Productivity LevelGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.6270.4650.627▼ Worsened since 2013
Sierra Leone: 0.465 · world median 0.627 · TFP level at current PPPs (USA = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.052 to 1.192; higher is better.
Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate)World Bank Group (Prospects Group) · 2020 · world median 27.537.6427.5▲ Improved since 2010
Sierra Leone: 37.64 · world median 27.5 · Informal output, model estimate (% of official GDP). World Bank Group (Prospects Group), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 7.91 to 60.43; lower is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8156.9241.81No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 56.92 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 39th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
New Business DensityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.1870.7322.187▲ Improved since 2014
Sierra Leone: 0.732 · world median 2.187 · New limited liability companies registered per 1,000 people aged 15–64. World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 26.76; higher is better.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8252.5165.82No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 52.51 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 50 · derived.
GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 14,2733,02314,273▲ Improved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 3,023 · world median 14,273 · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,181 to 116,633; higher is better.
Position 87th of 102 · derived.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-1.104-0.093▼ Worsened since 2015
Sierra Leone: -1.104 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 183rd of 209 · derived.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1330.7350.13No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 30.73 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 44th of 50 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1919.6840.19No real change since 2020
Sierra Leone: 19.68 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 175th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.854.0566.8No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 54.05 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 45th of 50 · derived.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,8901,69012,890No real change since 2012
Sierra Leone: 1,690 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 151st of 166 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,8001,87512,800No real change since 2017
Sierra Leone: 1,875 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 161st of 173 · derived.
Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.40.87910.4No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 0.879 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,4867,96046,486No real change since 2010
Sierra Leone: 7,960 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 143rd of 150 · derived.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6724.3846.67No real change since 2012
Sierra Leone: 24.38 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 188th of 195 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.48500.485No real change since 2013
Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 170th of 170 · derived.
No better end23
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.57229.546.572Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 29.54 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 11th of 158 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.6613.653.66Moved since 2012
Sierra Leone: 13.65 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Household ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 62.0478.1762.04Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 78.17 · world median 62.04 · Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 25.21 to 133.34.
Position 25th of 131 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7089.0371.708No real change since 2011
Sierra Leone: 9.037 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 48th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1784.567.17Moved since 2014
Sierra Leone: 84.5 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.4040.306Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 0.404 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
Statutory Corporate Income Tax RateOECD · 2026 · world median 242524Moved since 2016
Sierra Leone: 25 · world median 24 · Combined statutory corporate income tax rate, central and sub-central government (%). OECD, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 36.13.
Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 24.6525.724.65Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 25.7 · world median 24.65 · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.228 to 75.09.
Position 65th of 158 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9682.4021.968Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 2.402 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.23104.41103.23Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 104.41 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 22.9323.222.93Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 23.2 · world median 22.93 · Gross capital formation (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.679 to 45.27.
Position 64th of 131 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0619.1822.06Moved since 2014
Sierra Leone: 19.18 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 91st of 146 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3062.6753.306Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 2.675 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2406202,240Moved since 2022
Sierra Leone: 620 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 41.7228.2141.72Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 28.21 · world median 41.72 · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.279 to 196.89.
Position 104th of 138 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Trade (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 79.6849.179.68Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 49.1 · world median 79.68 · Exports plus imports (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.382 to 396.65.
Position 107th of 138 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 36.3420.8936.34Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 20.89 · world median 36.34 · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.103 to 199.76.
Position 111th of 138 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.733.4275.73Moved since 2016
Sierra Leone: 3.4 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95120.9657.95Moved since 2022
Sierra Leone: 120.9 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.215.94716.21No real change since 2015
Sierra Leone: 5.947 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.
Position 127th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.6020.7449.602Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 0.744 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.
Price Level of Household ConsumptionGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.5230.2570.523Moved since 2013
Sierra Leone: 0.257 · world median 0.523 · Price level of household consumption (US output price level in 2021 = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.177 to 65.54.
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)OECD · 2024 · world median 21.857.36121.85Moved since 2014
Sierra Leone: 7.361 · world median 21.85 · Total tax revenue, all levels of government (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.11 to 45.18.
No current reading for Sierra Leone
Adjusted Net Savings (last 2020), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Complexity Outlook Index, Container Port Traffic (last 2019), Creative Goods Exports (last 2018), Creative Services Exports, Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports (last 2023), Economic Complexity Index, Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, Gini Index (last 2018), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2018), Global Innovation Index, ICT Goods Exports (last 2018), ICT Services Exports (last 2023), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2018), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2018), Logistics Performance Index (last 2018), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Palma Ratio (last 2018), Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants and World Energy Trilemma Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among Sierra Leone’s 16 topics
Economy & Innovation is Sierra Leone’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability3rd of 1864/4 keys
- Energy4th of 1652/3 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 91st of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality112th of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 117th of 1772/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties132nd of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions146th of 1944/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality124th of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge155th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture154th of 1844/4 keys
- Digital & Technology169th of 1983/4 keys
- Work & Labour156th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience176th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation163rd of 1763/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing191st of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital188th of 1963/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Sierra Leone can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Mauritius36th4/4 keysHighest in Western Africa
Togo114th4/4 keysThis page
Sierra Leone163rd3/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Sierra Leone and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
Sierra Leone on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Sierra Leone rank on economy & innovation?
Sierra Leone is placed 163rd of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP), Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit and Account Ownership at a Financial Institution). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Sierra Leone?
3,176 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Sierra Leone?
17.56 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How does Sierra Leone compare with Guinea on economy & innovation?
Guinea is placed 170th of 176, and Sierra Leone 163rd. GDP per Capita (PPP): Guinea 4,217, Sierra Leone 3,176; Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit: Guinea 4.897, Sierra Leone 17.56; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution: Guinea 36.05, Sierra Leone 38.62.
How have Sierra Leone’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 1,982 in 2000 to 3,176 in 2025; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution rose from 15.34 in 2011 to 38.62 in 2024.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Sierra Leone?
No current reading is published for Sierra Leone on Adjusted Net Savings, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Complexity Outlook Index, Container Port Traffic, Creative Goods Exports, Creative Services Exports, Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, Economic Complexity Index, Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Global Innovation Index, ICT Goods Exports, ICT Services Exports, Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Palma Ratio, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 49 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Sierra Leone’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Sierra Leone (banner) — Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Sierra Leone: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/sierra-leone/economy