Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Sierra Leone

Unemployment rate in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 3.15%. Ranked 45 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.99 pp.

2025 3.15% +0.05 pp vs 2024
World rank 45of 182
Period maximum 4.68%2014
Period minimum 3.09%2023

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Sierra Leone, 1991–202533.544.5519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 4.14%1992: 4.38%1993: 4.4%1994: 4.46%1995: 4.32%1996: 4.31%1997: 4.36%1998: 4.24%1999: 4.29%2000: 4.14%2001: 4.24%2002: 3.91%2003: 3.88%2004: 3.42%2005: 3.73%2006: 3.89%2007: 4.02%2008: 4.13%2009: 4.27%2010: 4.34%2011: 4.39%2012: 4.38%2013: 4.38%2014: 4.68%2015: 4.48%2016: 4.18%2017: 3.66%2018: 3.19%2019: 3.2%2020: 3.51%2021: 3.55%2022: 3.14%2023: 3.09%2024: 3.1%2025: 3.15%
Change over the period: −0.99 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Sierra Leone 3.15%
World 4.79%
Western Africa computed 2.9%
Low-income countries computed 5.05%
Unemployment rate — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 3.15 +0.05 pp
2024 3.1 +0.01 pp
2023 3.09 −0.04 pp
2022 3.14 −0.41 pp
2021 3.55 +0.04 pp
2020 3.51 +0.31 pp
2019 3.2 +0.01 pp
2018 3.19 −0.46 pp
2017 3.66 −0.53 pp
2016 4.18 −0.3 pp
2015 4.48 −0.2 pp
2014 4.68 +0.3 pp
2013 4.38 −0 pp
2012 4.38 −0.01 pp
2011 4.39 +0.05 pp
2010 4.34 +0.07 pp
2009 4.27 +0.14 pp
2008 4.13 +0.11 pp
2007 4.02 +0.13 pp
2006 3.89 +0.16 pp
2005 3.73 +0.31 pp
2004 3.42 −0.46 pp
2003 3.88 −0.03 pp
2002 3.91 −0.33 pp
2001 4.24 +0.1 pp
2000 4.14 −0.15 pp
1999 4.29 +0.05 pp
1998 4.24 −0.12 pp
1997 4.36 +0.05 pp
1996 4.31 −0 pp
1995 4.32 −0.14 pp
1994 4.46 +0.06 pp
1993 4.4 +0.02 pp
1992 4.38 +0.24 pp
1991 4.14

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

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