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.
Unemployment rate in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.1% | — |
| 1992 | 4.4% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 4.3% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | -11.8% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 4.0% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | -12.6% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | -12.7% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -11.7% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | +1.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.4%, 71% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1389 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,725 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,247 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,103 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 7,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 15,934 1000 No (2100)
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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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.