Transport services in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Transport services 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 129th 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 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% |
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
- 126 Albania 11.0% compare
- 127 Switzerland 10.7% compare
- 128 Seychelles 10.3% compare
- 130 Spain 10.2% compare
- 131 El Salvador 10.1% compare
- 132 Italy 9.7% compare
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)
- Food exports 45.6% (2018)
- Manufactures exports 25.1% (2018)
- Merchandise exports 1.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 173.93 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2055 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.75 % change on previous year (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 129th 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.