Total reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total reserves in months of imports was 1.75 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 1.75 for total reserves in months of imports in 2024.
The figure is down 33.0% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone peaked at 9.08 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.1825, in 1989.
That places Sierra Leone 143rd out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1.72 | — |
| 1978 | 1.22 | -29.4% |
| 1979 | 1.24 | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 0.7438 | -40.1% |
| 1981 | 0.5049 | -32.1% |
| 1982 | 0.2748 | -45.6% |
| 1983 | 0.9906 | +260.5% |
| 1984 | 0.4044 | -59.2% |
| 1985 | 0.736 | +82.0% |
| 1986 | 9.08 | +1133.0% |
| 1987 | 0.3451 | -96.2% |
| 1988 | 0.53 | +53.6% |
| 1989 | 0.1825 | -65.6% |
| 1990 | 0.2273 | +24.5% |
| 1991 | 0.5263 | +131.6% |
| 1992 | 1.05 | +98.8% |
| 1993 | 1.37 | +30.7% |
| 1994 | 1.38 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.43 | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 0.9208 | -35.7% |
| 1997 | 3.58 | +288.3% |
| 1998 | 3.39 | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 2.35 | -30.7% |
| 2000 | 2.25 | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 2.12 | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 2.85 | +34.5% |
| 2003 | 1.9 | -33.4% |
| 2004 | 3.49 | +84.0% |
| 2005 | 4.02 | +15.0% |
| 2006 | 4.53 | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 4.08 | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 3.86 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 6.1 | +58.1% |
| 2010 | 4.12 | -32.5% |
| 2011 | 1.94 | -52.8% |
| 2012 | 2.13 | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 2.36 | +10.7% |
| 2014 | 2.21 | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 2.96 | +33.8% |
| 2016 | 3.91 | +32.1% |
| 2017 | 3.86 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 3.89 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 3.71 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 6.09 | +63.9% |
| 2021 | 5.7 | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 3.49 | -38.7% |
| 2023 | 2.61 | -25.2% |
| 2024 | 1.75 | -33.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.39 | 1.22 | 1.72 | 3 |
| 1980s | 1.38 | 0.1825 | 9.08 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.62 | 0.2273 | 3.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.52 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.11 | 1.94 | 4.12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.93 | 1.75 | 6.09 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More financial sector data for Sierra Leone
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per capita 4,743 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.6 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), annual growth rate 28.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gold reserves at 35 SDRs per ounce 0 SDR (2024)
- Gold reserves at market value 0 SDR (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange 104.67 million SDR (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold 332.23 million SDR (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) 332.23 million SDR (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) 332.23 million SDR (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 38.44 SDR per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone was 1.75 in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 9.08 in 1986.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1825 in 1989.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Sierra Leone ranks 143rd out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Total reserves in months of imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This item is expressed in terms of the number of months of imports of goods and services they could pay for [X/(Imports/12)].