Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 12 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Sierra Leone: Mobility & Trade
Which countries move goods across their borders most smoothly?
Sierra Leone is placed joint 117th of 177 countries on mobility & trade in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Liner Shipping Connectivity Index 29.93 (2025); Container Import Dwell Time 4.9 (2024).
Share
Mobility & Trade
joint117th
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Sierra Leone on mobility & trade — 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.
Key 1 of 4
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
29.93
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Higher is better
Ranked 116th of 177 by UNCTAD
Sierra Leone: 29.93. Across the 168 countries in this edition, values run from 4.13 (Turks and Caicos Islands) to 1,313 (China); the world median is 60.84.
- World median
- 60.84
- Best in Western Africa
- 139.37 Ghana
- Land neighbours
- Guinea 32.74 · Liberia 19.91
4.9
Median days a full import container waits in port
Lower is better
Sierra Leone: 4.9. Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 1 (Gibraltar) to 21.6 (Haiti); the world median is 4.4.
- World median
- 4.4
- Best in Western Africa
- 3.2 Liberia
- Land neighbours
- Guinea 6.6 · Liberia 3.2
No reading
LPI score (1–5)
Higher is better
World Bank Group publishes no 2023 figure for Sierra Leone, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 1.9 (Afghanistan) to 4.3 (Singapore); the world median is 2.9.
- World median
- 2.9
- Best in Western Africa
- 2.9 Benin
- Land neighbours
- Guinea 2.5 · Liberia 2.4
Key 4 of 4
ICT Goods Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)
Higher is better
UNCTAD publishes no 2024 figure for Sierra Leone, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 120 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 61.45 (Hong Kong); the world median is 0.975.
- World median
- 0.975
- Best in Western Africa
- 0.26 Côte d’Ivoire
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.
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) · higher is better
Sierra LeoneWorld median
Sierra Leone rose from 13.83 in 2006 to 27.27 in 2026; the world median went from 52.25 to 56.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Sierra Leone World median 2026 27.27 56.21 2025 29.93 60.84 2024 18.49 55.22 2023 23.80 54.78 2022 18.09 51.49 2021 19.17 52.64 2020 30.38 47.86 2019 15.63 51.05 2018 17.81 52.03 2017 25.96 49.87 2016 24.04 48.09 2015 26.96 49.13 2014 28.06 48.08 2013 26.49 51.32 2012 23.99 47.44 2011 14.54 50.26 2010 14.34 50.51 2009 14.37 53.04 2008 21.04 51.68 2007 19.72 55.78 2006 13.83 52.25 Logistics Performance Index
LPI score (1–5) · higher is better
Sierra LeoneWorld median
Sierra Leone rose from 1.954 in 2007 to 2.078 in 2018; the world median went from 2.529 to 2.706.
Every year’s figures
Year Sierra Leone World median 2023 — 2.900 2018 2.078 2.706 2016 2.025 2.734 2014 — 2.753 2012 2.079 2.773 2010 1.970 2.746 2007 1.954 2.529 ICT Goods Exports
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) · higher is better
Sierra LeoneWorld median
Sierra Leone fell from 2.49 in 2000 to 0.02 in 2018; the world median went from 0.43 to 0.48.
Every year’s figures
Year Sierra Leone World median 2024 — 0.975000 2023 — 0.690000 2022 — 0.565000 2021 — 0.550000 2020 — 0.680000 2019 — 0.625000 2018 0.02 0.480000 2017 0.28 0.630000 2016 0.08 0.865000 2015 0.17 0.790000 2014 0.01 0.760000 2013 — 0.645000 2012 — 0.630000 2011 — 0.535000 2010 — 0.560000 2009 — 0.780000 2008 — 0.595000 2007 — 0.660000 2006 — 0.445000 2005 — 0.570000 2004 — 0.535000 2003 — 0.530000 2002 1.94 0.510000 2001 — 0.490000 2000 2.49 0.430000
03In context
Sierra Leone beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 177 countries on mobility & trade, never a place within the region.
Sierra Leone and the countries it borders
Standing among all 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexLSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) | Container Import Dwell TimeMedian days a full import container waits in port | Logistics Performance IndexLPI score (1–5) | ICT Goods ExportsICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | =117th | 29.93 | 4.9 | — | — |
 Liberia | 131st | 19.91 | 3.2 | 2.4 | — |
 Guinea | 146th | 32.74 | 6.6 | 2.5 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.
Placed either side on mobility & trade
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
20 more statistics filed under mobility & trade, 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 median1
Statistics on which Sierra Leone does better than the middle country measured.
Freedom of Foreign MovementV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.21.5181.2▼ Worsened since 2015
Sierra Leone: 1.518 · world median 1.2 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +2.9); higher = freer movement. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.642 to 2.727; higher is better.
Position 70th of 176 · derived.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which Sierra Leone does worse than the middle country measured.
Average Time to Clear Exports Through CustomsWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.4565.4354.456No earlier reading
Sierra Leone: 5.435 · world median 4.456 · Average time to clear exports through customs (days). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 27.46; lower is better.
Position 72nd of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.5090.206No real change since 2015
Sierra Leone: 0.509 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 9th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Cost of Sending RemittancesWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 3.22510.343.225▼ Worsened since 2016
Sierra Leone: 10.34 · world median 3.225 · Average cost of sending $200 home (% of the amount). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -49.69 to 19.63; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 93 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end16
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
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.
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.
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.
Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median -0.133-0.473-0.133Moved since 2013
Sierra Leone: -0.473 · world median -0.133 · Net migrants per 1,000 population. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -61.68 to 39.62.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.828.242.8No real change since 2012
Sierra Leone: 28.2 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 444,45163,631444,451No real change since 2015
Sierra Leone: 63,631 · world median 444,451 · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 313 to 18,533,845.
International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 223,32349,997223,323Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 49,997 · world median 223,323 · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 246 to 52,375,047.
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.
International Migrants as a Share of PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 6.0890.5796.089Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 0.579 · world median 6.089 · International migrants (% of population). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 100.
Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,83601,836Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 1,836 · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3,718,945.
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.
Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 12,269012,269Moved since 2015
Sierra Leone: 0 · world median 12,269 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,655,191.
No current reading for Sierra Leone
Container Port Traffic (last 2019), Creative Goods Exports (last 2018), Creative Services Exports, Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports (last 2023), FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index, Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, ICT Goods Exports (last 2018), ICT Services Exports (last 2023), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Logistics Performance Index (last 2018) and Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2002). 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
Mobility & Trade among Sierra Leone’s 16 topics
Mobility & Trade is Sierra Leone’s 5th 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 mobility & trade
The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders Sierra Leone can most readily be measured against.
1
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
1st of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
MacauEastern Asia
2nd of 177 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
Hong KongEastern Asia
3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
South Africa39th4/4 keysHighest in Western Africa
Côte d’Ivoire98th3/4 keysThis page
Sierra Leone=117th2/4 keys
Positions out of 177 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 mobility & trade
On mobility & trade
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 mobility & trade
The World’s Safest Airlines for 2025
The eleven safest airlines of 2025, each beside the country it is based in, and the nine things the grading looks at. Three airlines share third place, and the publisher gives an order but no score.
On mobility & trade
The world’s most powerful passports for 2025
Sixteen passports, their mobility scores, and the visa-free, visa-on-arrival and visa-required split behind each. Fourteen share third place while differing in how they reach it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Passport strength and visa-free travel are not measured with a key, because the data behind passport rankings is not licensed for reuse here. Trade as a share of the economy, the cost of sending money home, migrant numbers, refugees and student mobility are published as context: they describe how much crosses a border, not how well a country handles it. Services sold over the internet are measured under Digital & Technology.
How the Mobility & Trade 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 mobility & trade method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Index — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Container Import Dwell Time — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Logistics Performance Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- ICT Goods Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 7 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
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
- Macau — Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hong Kong — Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Sierra Leone: Mobility & Trade — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/sierra-leone/mobility