Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Sierra Leone

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 45.91%. Ranked 118 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 2.84 pp.

2025 45.91% −4.09 pp vs 2024
World rank 118of 189
Period maximum 59.14%1980
Period minimum 12.55%2001

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Sierra Leone, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 48.76%1962: 41.43%1964: 52.17%1966: 48.74%1968: 56.39%1970: 49.95%1972: 50.28%1974: 56.43%1976: 42.36%1978: 46.74%1980: 59.14%1982: 31.57%1984: 26.67%1986: 56.31%1988: 24.83%1990: 44.18%1992: 43.39%1994: 29.06%1996: 27.4%1998: 15.17%2000: 25.48%2002: 16.19%2004: 19%2006: 19%2008: 18.04%2010: 26.06%2012: 44.39%2014: 40.59%2016: 27.81%2018: 29.86%2020: 38.41%2022: 42.48%2024: 50.01%2025: 45.91%
Change over the period: −2.84 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Sierra Leone 45.91%
World 43.89%
Western Africa computed 43.23%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 45.91 −4.09 pp
2024 50.01 −0.65 pp
2023 50.66 +8.18 pp
2022 42.48 +7.6 pp
2021 34.88 −3.53 pp
2020 38.41 +5.65 pp
2019 32.76 +2.9 pp
2018 29.86 −2.63 pp
2017 32.49 +4.68 pp
2016 27.81 −2.27 pp
2015 30.08 −10.51 pp
2014 40.59 −8.68 pp
2013 49.28 +4.89 pp
2012 44.39 +1.87 pp
2011 42.52 +16.45 pp
2010 26.06 +7.07 pp
2009 19 +0.96 pp
2008 18.04 −0.95 pp
2007 18.99 −0 pp
2006 19 −0.77 pp
2005 19.76 +0.77 pp
2004 19 +0.56 pp
2003 18.44 +2.25 pp
2002 16.19 +3.64 pp
2001 12.55 −12.93 pp
2000 25.48 +12.48 pp
1999 13 −2.17 pp
1998 15.17 +2.23 pp
1997 12.94 −14.46 pp
1996 27.4 +7.3 pp
1995 20.1 −8.96 pp
1994 29.06 −5.4 pp
1993 34.47 −8.92 pp
1992 43.39 +3.9 pp
1991 39.49 −4.69 pp
1990 44.18 +9.77 pp
1989 34.41 +9.57 pp
1988 24.83 −15.62 pp
1987 40.45 −15.86 pp
1986 56.31 +23.51 pp
1985 32.79 +6.13 pp
1984 26.67 −1.37 pp
1983 28.04 −3.54 pp
1982 31.57 −11.3 pp
1981 42.88 −16.27 pp
1980 59.14 +12.63 pp
1979 46.51 −0.22 pp
1978 46.74 +0.91 pp
1977 45.82 +3.46 pp
1976 42.36 −2.24 pp
1975 44.6 −11.83 pp
1974 56.43 +6.71 pp
1973 49.72 −0.56 pp
1972 50.28 −0.01 pp
1971 50.29 +0.34 pp
1970 49.95 −3.39 pp
1969 53.34 −3.05 pp
1968 56.39 +10.52 pp
1967 45.87 −2.87 pp
1966 48.74 −5.8 pp
1965 54.54 +2.37 pp
1964 52.17 +4.83 pp
1963 47.34 +5.91 pp
1962 41.43 −11.34 pp
1961 52.77 +4.01 pp
1960 48.76

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.