Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) was 9.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
Analysis
The most recent figure for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone is 9.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 14.8% on the previous year and up 289.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone peaked at 112.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2013.
Sierra Leone ranks 48th of 118 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.
Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 10.5% | — |
| 1978 | 20.3% | +93.2% |
| 1979 | 22.2% | +9.4% |
| 1980 | 27.5% | +23.6% |
| 1981 | 37.3% | +35.8% |
| 1982 | 27.7% | -25.7% |
| 1983 | 23.7% | -14.4% |
| 1984 | 25.4% | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 14.9% | -41.5% |
| 1986 | 39.7% | +166.7% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | -77.4% |
| 1988 | 11.8% | +31.6% |
| 1989 | 4.2% | -64.5% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | +141.6% |
| 1991 | 6.8% | -32.4% |
| 1992 | 17.0% | +148.4% |
| 1993 | 17.5% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 73.0% | +317.8% |
| 1995 | 63.2% | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 58.4% | -7.6% |
| 1997 | 30.7% | -47.4% |
| 1998 | 43.9% | +43.0% |
| 1999 | 86.3% | +96.6% |
| 2000 | 75.7% | -12.3% |
| 2001 | 112.3% | +48.4% |
| 2002 | 13.1% | -88.4% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | -21.7% |
| 2004 | 10.0% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | -33.1% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | +16.6% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | -64.1% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -41.5% |
| 2009 | 2.0% | +23.7% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | +31.4% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | +25.0% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -50.7% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -17.5% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | +69.0% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | +183.0% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | -30.5% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | +40.4% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | +15.9% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | +24.8% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | +81.1% |
| 2021 | 11.2% | -33.0% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -15.9% |
| 2023 | 10.5% | +12.0% |
| 2024 | 9.0% | -14.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 9.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.3%, 1.2× the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 9.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.0%, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +317.8% | 17.5% | 73.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.7% | 10.5% | 22.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 22.1% | 4.2% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.7% | 6.8% | 86.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.2% | 1.6% | 112.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 1.4% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 9.0% | 16.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More external debt data for Sierra Leone
- IFC, private nonguaranteed 9.00 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita 1.04 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP 0.0013 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 0 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 1.0% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA -4.82 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita -0.5577 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP -0.0007 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD -284,000 NFL, current US$ (2000)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 4.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone?
- Debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) in Sierra Leone was 9.0% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 112.3% in 2001.
- What is the lowest debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2013.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and)?
- Sierra Leone ranks 48th out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service (ppg and imf only, % of exports of goods, services and) rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 289.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Debt service (PPG and IMF only, % of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Debt service, the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services, is expressed as a percentage of exports of goods and services--all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, net exports of goods under merchanting, nonmonetary gold, and services. This series differs from the standard debt to exports series in that it covers only long-term public and publicly guaranteed debt and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.