Sierra Leone Reserves in Months of Imports
Total reserves in months of imports FI.RES.TOTL.MO
Sierra Leone's reserves in months of imports was 2.4 in 2025, ranked 107th globally. This represents a 8.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1977–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's reserves in months of imports stood at 2.4 in 2025, a decline of +0.2 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.4 by 2025. Sierra Leone ranked 107th globally.
Sierra Leone's foreign exchange reserves, measured as a buffer against imports, have demonstrated significant volatility over the past four decades. At 2.36 months of imports as of 2025, the country ranks 107th globally. The indicator peaked in 1986 at 9.08 months, reflecting the country's mineral-rich economy and favorable commodity prices during that time. Conversely, the all-time low of 0.18 months in 1989 highlights the devastating impact of the civil war and subsequent economic crisis. In comparison, the Democratic Republic of Congo, a peer country, boasts a slightly higher reserve buffer of 2.37 months. Despite some recent improvement, Sierra Leone's reserves remain relatively low compared to its peers. A sustained increase in commodity prices or a successful implementation of economic diversification policies could help boost the country's reserve buffer and improve its foreign exchange position.
Data & projection
| Year | Reserves in Months of Imports | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.9 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 2.4 | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.4 | −0.2 | #107 |
| 2023 | 2.6 | −0.9 | #108 |
| 2022 | 3.5 | −2.2 | #94 |
| 2021 | 5.7 | −0.4 | #64 |
| 2020 | 6.1 | +2.4 | #74 |
| 2019 | 3.7 | −0.2 | #97 |
| 2018 | 3.9 | +0.0 | #86 |
| 2017 | 3.9 | −0.0 | #92 |
| 2016 | 3.9 | +0.9 | #88 |
| 2015 | 3.0 | +0.7 | #112 |
| 2014 | 2.2 | −0.1 | #133 |
| 2013 | 2.4 | +0.2 | #130 |
| 2012 | 2.1 | +0.2 | #135 |
| 2011 | 1.9 | −2.2 | #135 |
| 2010 | 4.1 | −2.0 | #91 |
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 reserves in months of imports improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's reserves in months of imports was 2.4 in 2025. Ranked 107th globally. This represents a 8.1% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's reserves in months of imports peaked at 9.1 in 1986.
The lowest reserves in months of imports in Sierra Leone was 0.2 in 1989.
Sierra Leone ranks 107th globally in reserves in months of imports as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is FI.RES.TOTL.MO. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sierra Leone's reserves in months of imports is projected to reach 2.4 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The reserves in months of imports of Sierra Leone in 2025 was 2.4. This ranks 107th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_reserves-months-imports,
title = {Sierra Leone Reserves in Months of Imports},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/reserves-months-imports/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}