Transport services (% of commercial service exports) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Transport services (% of commercial service exports) was 10.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Transport services in Sierra Leone, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service exports.
Analysis
In 2024, transport services in Sierra Leone stood at 10.2%.
That represents a change of down 21.8% on the previous year and down 47.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in Sierra Leone peaked at 61.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2004.
That places Sierra Leone 128th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Transport services (% of commercial service exports) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 51.1% | — |
| 1978 | 39.5% | -22.7% |
| 1979 | 61.4% | +55.3% |
| 1980 | 41.9% | -31.7% |
| 1981 | 40.0% | -4.6% |
| 1982 | 33.6% | -16.1% |
| 1983 | 20.2% | -39.9% |
| 1984 | 22.4% | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 36.6% | +63.6% |
| 1986 | 16.8% | -54.0% |
| 1987 | 16.3% | -3.3% |
| 1988 | 29.9% | +83.9% |
| 1989 | 61.8% | +106.5% |
| 1990 | 9.7% | -84.3% |
| 1991 | 19.4% | +100.1% |
| 1992 | 13.0% | -32.8% |
| 1993 | 26.5% | +103.2% |
| 1994 | 14.4% | -45.6% |
| 1995 | 13.7% | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 28.8% | +110.1% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -30.9% |
| 1998 | 26.9% | +34.9% |
| 1999 | 24.1% | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 45.8% | +90.2% |
| 2001 | 40.7% | -11.2% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | -88.7% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -45.6% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | +496.4% |
| 2006 | 34.0% | +128.8% |
| 2007 | 37.3% | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 34.2% | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 24.6% | -28.3% |
| 2010 | 44.7% | +82.1% |
| 2011 | 20.7% | -53.6% |
| 2012 | 14.3% | -30.8% |
| 2013 | 22.8% | +58.8% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | -15.0% |
| 2015 | 22.0% | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 26.2% | +19.1% |
| 2017 | 22.8% | -13.0% |
| 2018 | 26.6% | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | -34.4% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | -28.1% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 31.7% | +148.3% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | -58.9% |
| 2024 | 10.2% | -21.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 10.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 13.1%, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 10.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.1%, 72% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Transport services (% of commercial service exports) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +496.4% | 2.5% | 14.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50.7% | 39.5% | 61.4% | 3 |
| 1980s | 32.0% | 16.3% | 61.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.6% | 9.7% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 2.5% | 45.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 23.7% | 14.3% | 44.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.0% | 10.2% | 31.7% | 5 |
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 transport services in Sierra Leone?
- Transport services in Sierra Leone was 10.2% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 61.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for transport services?
- Sierra Leone ranks 128th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is transport services rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are commercial services provided by residents to non-residents.