Sierra Leone Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Sierra Leone's labor force participation was 53.37% in 2025, ranked 144th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's labor force participation stood at 53.37% in 2025, a decline of +0.21pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 53.40% by 2026. Sierra Leone ranked 144th globally.
Sierra Leone's labor force participation rate has experienced fluctuations over the past three and a half decades. The country's participation rate reached an all-time high of 66.11% in 2004, but subsequently declined to an all-time low of 53.30% in 2020. The rate has continued to recover, though at a slow pace, with a current participation rate of 53.37% as of 2025. This ranks Sierra Leone 144th globally. A comparison with peer countries reveals that Suriname has a slightly higher participation rate of 53.82%, while Guinea lags behind with a rate of 52.61%. The slow recovery of labor force participation in Sierra Leone suggests that the country's labor market may be facing structural challenges. A significant improvement in the business environment, education, and job creation could potentially alter the trajectory of labor force participation in Sierra Leone and drive the country's economy towards sustained growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 53.29% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 53.35% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 53.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 53.37% | −0.21pp | #144 |
| 2024 | 53.58% | −0.05pp | #144 |
| 2023 | 53.63% | −0.03pp | #143 |
| 2022 | 53.67% | +0.05pp | #143 |
| 2021 | 53.61% | +0.31pp | #139 |
| 2020 | 53.30% | −0.51pp | #140 |
| 2019 | 53.81% | −0.10pp | #143 |
| 2018 | 53.91% | −0.76pp | #144 |
| 2017 | 54.68% | −0.76pp | #142 |
| 2016 | 55.44% | −0.76pp | #139 |
| 2015 | 56.19% | −0.76pp | #133 |
| 2014 | 56.95% | −0.95pp | #126 |
| 2013 | 57.90% | −0.94pp | #123 |
| 2012 | 58.84% | −0.94pp | #117 |
| 2011 | 59.78% | −0.93pp | #107 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sierra Leone matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's labor force participation was 53.37% in 2025. Ranked 144th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's labor force participation peaked at 66.11% in 2004.
The lowest labor force participation in Sierra Leone was 53.30% in 2020.
Sierra Leone ranks 144th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sierra Leone's labor force participation is projected to reach 53.40% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Sierra Leone in 2025 was 53.37%. This ranks 144th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_labor-force-participation,
title = {Sierra Leone Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}