Unemployment rate in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Unemployment rate was 3.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Sierra Leone, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Sierra Leone stood at 3.1%.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.7% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 142nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 3.2% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More work & labour data for Sierra Leone
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 93.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 33.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 28.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 53.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 30.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 55.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 53.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Sierra Leone?
- Unemployment rate in Sierra Leone was 3.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for unemployment rate?
- Sierra Leone ranks 142nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.