International tourism, receipts (% of total exports) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: International tourism, receipts (% of total exports) was 5.5% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, receipts in Sierra Leone, 1995–2018
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in % of total exports.
Analysis
In 2018, international tourism, receipts in Sierra Leone stood at 5.5%.
The figure is up 18.8% on the previous year and down 46.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts in Sierra Leone peaked at 44.4% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2014.
Sierra Leone ranks 90th of 183 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.
International tourism, receipts (% of total exports) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of total exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 44.4% | — |
| 1996 | 26.5% | -40.5% |
| 1997 | 21.0% | -20.6% |
| 1998 | 11.8% | -43.7% |
| 1999 | 21.0% | +77.1% |
| 2000 | 18.2% | -13.3% |
| 2001 | 17.3% | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 38.7% | +124.3% |
| 2003 | 33.9% | -12.3% |
| 2004 | 27.9% | -17.7% |
| 2005 | 24.4% | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | -68.9% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | -12.5% |
| 2008 | 10.3% | +54.6% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | -34.0% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | +31.1% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -53.3% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -38.0% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +103.3% |
| 2016 | 5.2% | +9.9% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -11.1% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | +18.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 5.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 8.5%, 65% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 5.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.6%, 83% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.9% | 11.8% | 44.4% | 5 |
| 2000s | 19.2% | 6.7% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 2.3% | 8.2% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More private sector data for Sierra Leone
- Merchandise trade 45.9% (2025)
- Food imports 32.3% (2018)
- Manufactures imports 63.9% (2018)
- Merchandise imports 1.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 481.67 million current US$ (2024)
- Food exports 45.6% (2018)
- Manufactures exports 25.1% (2018)
- Merchandise exports 1.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 49.60 million current US$ (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 173.93 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, receipts in Sierra Leone?
- International tourism, receipts in Sierra Leone was 5.5% in 2018, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 44.4% in 1995.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2014.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for international tourism, receipts?
- Sierra Leone ranks 90th out of 183 countries with data for 2018.
- Is international tourism, receipts rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, receipts (% of total exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Their share in exports is calculated as a ratio to exports of goods and services, which comprise 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, goods sent for processing and repairs, nonmonetary gold, and services.