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Employment in services — all countries

Employment in services — Sierra Leone

Employment in services in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 44%. Ranked 145 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 16.5 pp.

2025 44% +0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank 145of 182
Period maximum 44%2025
Period minimum 25%2004

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in services — Sierra Leone, 1991–2025253035404519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 27.6%1992: 26.5%1993: 26.7%1994: 26.6%1995: 26%1996: 26.2%1997: 25.6%1998: 25.8%1999: 25.7%2000: 26.3%2001: 25.1%2002: 26.6%2003: 27.2%2004: 25%2005: 25.6%2006: 26.2%2007: 27.3%2008: 28.3%2009: 28.9%2010: 30%2011: 31%2012: 32.9%2013: 35%2014: 36.3%2015: 36.6%2016: 39.3%2017: 41.7%2018: 43.2%2019: 43.9%2020: 42.3%2021: 42.2%2022: 42.6%2023: 43.2%2024: 43.6%2025: 44%
Change over the period: +16.5 pp Annual average: 0.48 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone 44%
World 50.6%
Sub-Saharan Africa 38.5%
Western Africa computed 44.3%
Low-income countries computed 31.1%
Employment in services — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 44 +0.5 pp
2024 43.6 +0.3 pp
2023 43.2 +0.6 pp
2022 42.6 +0.4 pp
2021 42.2 −0.2 pp
2020 42.3 −1.6 pp
2019 43.9 +0.7 pp
2018 43.2 +1.6 pp
2017 41.7 +2.4 pp
2016 39.3 +2.7 pp
2015 36.6 +0.3 pp
2014 36.3 +1.3 pp
2013 35 +2.1 pp
2012 32.9 +1.9 pp
2011 31 +1 pp
2010 30 +1.1 pp
2009 28.9 +0.6 pp
2008 28.3 +0.9 pp
2007 27.3 +1.1 pp
2006 26.2 +0.7 pp
2005 25.6 +0.5 pp
2004 25 −2.2 pp
2003 27.2 +0.6 pp
2002 26.6 +1.5 pp
2001 25.1 −1.2 pp
2000 26.3 +0.6 pp
1999 25.7 −0.1 pp
1998 25.8 +0.2 pp
1997 25.6 −0.6 pp
1996 26.2 +0.2 pp
1995 26 −0.6 pp
1994 26.6 −0.1 pp
1993 26.7 +0.2 pp
1992 26.5 −1.1 pp
1991 27.6 —

Western Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

CV Cabo Verde 67.7 GM Gambia 53.6 MR Mauritania 52.8 LR Liberia 50.5 NG Nigeria 49.5 SN Senegal 47.9 GH Ghana 47.2 TG Togo 44.2 SL Sierra Leone 44 BJ Benin 41.4 CI Côte d'Ivoire 40.3 GN Guinea 38.5 BF Burkina Faso 31.6 GW Guinea-Bissau 29.2 ML Mali 28.4 NE Niger 17.7
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of total employment in the service sector: trade, transport, communications, finance, business services, public administration, education, health care. In high-income countries it exceeds 70–80%; the rise of this share is the main line of structural change in labor markets over the past half century.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Sierra Leone

Economy Services share of GDP

The contribution of trade, transport, finance, IT and public administration to value added.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Employment in industry

The share of workers employed in mining, manufacturing, utilities and construction.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Youth unemployment

The unemployment rate at ages 15–24 — almost always two to three times the overall rate.

Sierra Leone by year
All indicators for Sierra Leone