Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 18.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Sierra Leone, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Sierra Leone is 18.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 55.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Sierra Leone peaked at 47.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1989.
That places Sierra Leone 87th out of 112 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 (% of total external debt) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 34.6% | — |
| 1972 | 38.9% | +12.5% |
| 1973 | 36.5% | -6.1% |
| 1974 | 28.3% | -22.5% |
| 1975 | 13.9% | -51.0% |
| 1976 | 10.8% | -22.1% |
| 1977 | 11.5% | +6.8% |
| 1978 | 10.0% | -13.0% |
| 1979 | 11.1% | +10.8% |
| 1980 | 6.3% | -43.2% |
| 1981 | 2.6% | -58.1% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | -50.8% |
| 1983 | 2.5% | +92.1% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | -50.0% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | +21.7% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | -61.0% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | +17.3% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -52.3% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | +32.7% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | +67.0% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | +79.7% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | +36.7% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +40.2% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | -22.7% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +49.7% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | -10.3% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +31.7% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 6.0% | +47.3% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 7.4% | +75.8% |
| 2005 | 9.4% | +27.1% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | +27.3% |
| 2007 | 39.3% | +226.6% |
| 2008 | 34.7% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 47.3% | +36.1% |
| 2010 | 43.9% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 41.8% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 35.8% | -14.4% |
| 2013 | 38.0% | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 41.9% | +10.2% |
| 2015 | 37.2% | -11.3% |
| 2016 | 30.6% | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 30.6% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 27.3% | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 27.5% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 32.2% | +17.4% |
| 2021 | 37.4% | +15.9% |
| 2022 | 26.0% | -30.4% |
| 2023 | 20.6% | -20.7% |
| 2024 | 18.6% | -9.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 18.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.5%, 1.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 18.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 78% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +226.6% | 12.0% | 39.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.7% | 10.0% | 38.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 0.3% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | 0.5% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.8% | 3.9% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.5% | 27.3% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.0% | 18.6% | 37.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More financial sector data for Sierra Leone
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0027 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Sierra Leone?
- Total reserves in Sierra Leone was 18.6% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1989.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total reserves?
- Sierra Leone ranks 87th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.6%. 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 Total reserves (% of total external debt). 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 indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.