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Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Sierra Leone: Energy

Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?

Sierra Leone is placed 4th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 57.14 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 95.24 (2024).

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Energy

4th

of 165 countries placed

Placed from 2 of 3 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics145th of 183 →

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Sierra Leone on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 3

    Carbon Intensity of Electricity

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    57.14

    Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)

    Lower is better

    Sierra Leone: 57.14. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.

    World median
    433.75
    Best in Western Africa
    57.14 Sierra Leone
    Land neighbours
    Guinea 181.39 · Liberia 314.04

  2. Key 2 of 3

    Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    95.24

    Renewables (% of electricity generated)

    Higher is better

    Sierra Leone: 95.24. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.

    World median
    32.06
    Best in Western Africa
    95.24 Sierra Leone
    Land neighbours
    Guinea 75.19 · Liberia 54.39

  3. Key 3 of 3

    World Energy Trilemma Index

    World Energy Council

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)

    No reading

    Trilemma score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    World Energy Council publishes no 2023 figure for Sierra Leone, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.

    World median
    63.8
    Best in Western Africa
    47.6 Ghana

03In context

Sierra Leone beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.

Western Africa
1st165thNot placed · 59 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on energy

Sierra Leone and the countries it borders

Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingCarbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated)World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100)
Sierra Leone4th57.1495.24—
Guinea=28th181.3975.19—
Liberia55th314.0454.39—

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Placed either side on energy

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

26 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median4

Statistics on which Sierra Leone does better than the middle country measured.

  • Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7380.982No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0.982 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.210.166No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0.166 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.

    Position 196th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3295.24▲ Improved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 95.24 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 16th of 162 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2799.524▲ Improved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 9.524 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Behind the world median9

Statistics on which Sierra Leone does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7731.7No earlier reading

    Sierra Leone: 31.7 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.

    Position 72nd of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • RISE Electricity Access Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 65.6748.61▲ Improved since 2013

    Sierra Leone: 48.61 · world median 65.67 · Electricity access policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 9.471 to 90.47; higher is better.

    Position 42nd of 56 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • RISE Clean Cooking Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 29.7215.56▲ Improved since 2013

    Sierra Leone: 15.56 · world median 29.72 · Clean cooking policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 80.69; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2319.69▲ Improved since 2013

    Sierra Leone: 19.69 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2613.59▼ Worsened since 2013

    Sierra Leone: 13.59 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8561.51No earlier reading

    Sierra Leone: 61.51 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10024.9▲ Improved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 24.9 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10039.2No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 39.2 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10016.83No real change since 2017

    Sierra Leone: 16.83 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Level with the median, or no median to compare1

  • Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end12

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8585.71Moved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 85.71 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0499.524Moved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 9.524 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.086No earlier reading

    Sierra Leone: 4.086 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.02Moved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0.02 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 00No real change since 2015

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.5850Moved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.001Moved since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 0.001 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1000No earlier reading

    Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.52.75No real change since 2014

    Sierra Leone: 2.75 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No current reading for Sierra Leone

Operating Coal Power Capacity 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

Energy among Sierra Leone’s 16 topics

Energy is Sierra Leone’s 2nd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Environment & Sustainability3rd of 186
  2. Energy4th of 165
  3. Peace & Securityjoint 91st of 177
  4. Gender & Equality112th of 183
  5. Mobility & Tradejoint 117th of 177
  6. Democracy & Civil Liberties132nd of 198
  7. Governance & Institutions146th of 194
  8. Poverty & Inequality124th of 159
  9. Education & Knowledge155th of 198
  10. Food & Agriculture154th of 184
  11. Digital & Technology169th of 198
  12. Work & Labour156th of 182
  13. Risk & Resilience176th of 193
  14. Economy & Innovation163rd of 176
  15. Health & Wellbeing191st of 200
  16. Development & Human Capital188th of 196

06The top of the list

Who leads on energy

The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Sierra Leone can most readily be measured against.

All 165 countries
  1. 1

    Bhutan

    Southern Asia

    1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Norway

    Northern Europe

    2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Uganda

    Eastern Africa

    3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Africa

    Uganda3rd2/3 keys

  2. Highest in Western Africa

    Sierra Leone4th2/3 keys

Positions out of 165 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.

07Questions

Sierra Leone on energy: 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 energy?

Sierra Leone is placed 4th of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity and Renewable Share of Electricity Generation). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Sierra Leone?

57.14 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.

What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Sierra Leone?

95.24 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.

How does Sierra Leone compare with Guinea on energy?

Guinea is placed joint 28th of 165, and Sierra Leone 4th. Carbon Intensity of Electricity: Guinea 181.39, Sierra Leone 57.14; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation: Guinea 75.19, Sierra Leone 95.24.

How have Sierra Leone’s energy figures changed?

Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 588.89 in 2000 to 57.14 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 11.11 in 2000 to 95.24 in 2024.

Which energy statistics are missing for Sierra Leone?

No current reading is published for Sierra Leone on Operating Coal Power Capacity and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

08Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.

About energy, in full

How the Energy standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 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 3 keys to be placed.

The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 26 statistics on this page come from 8 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.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Sierra Leone: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/sierra-leone/energy

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