Sierra Leone Trade Openness
Trade as % of GDP NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS
Sierra Leone's trade openness was 52.63% in 2025, ranked 146th globally. This represents a 29.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1964–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's trade openness stood at 52.63% in 2025, a rise of +12.09% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 52.63% by 2025. Sierra Leone ranked 146th globally.
Sierra Leone's trade openness has experienced significant fluctuations over the past six decades, with the country's ranking in this area varying globally. Initially, Sierra Leone's trade openness stood at 58.59 in 1964, indicating a relatively open economy. The trade openness peaked at 68.69 in 1990, a year after the country's civil war had ended, suggesting a surge in international trade. Conversely, the trough of 21.26 in 2008, during the global financial crisis, marked a drastic decline in trade openness. As of 2025, Sierra Leone's trade openness stands at 52.63, slightly lower than Japan's 52.86. The country's trade openness has shown a general upward trend since the trough, but its ranking remains relatively low globally. A sustained increase in foreign investment and infrastructure development could potentially boost Sierra Leone's trade openness and propel it towards more stable economic growth.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Openness | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 59.23% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 55.93% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 52.63% | - | - |
| 2025 | 52.63% | +12.09% | #146 |
| 2024 | 40.55% | −14.74% | #19 |
| 2023 | 55.29% | +10.23% | #44 |
| 2022 | 45.05% | +2.91% | #20 |
| 2021 | 42.14% | +11.53% | #23 |
| 2020 | 30.61% | −6.95% | #9 |
| 2019 | 37.56% | +0.18% | #14 |
| 2018 | 37.38% | −4.14% | #14 |
| 2017 | 41.52% | −1.55% | #19 |
| 2016 | 43.07% | +6.58% | #29 |
| 2015 | 36.48% | −14.64% | #11 |
| 2014 | 51.12% | −2.24% | #33 |
| 2013 | 53.36% | −0.02% | #36 |
| 2012 | 53.38% | +9.60% | #34 |
| 2011 | 43.78% | +15.83% | #17 |
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 trade openness improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's trade openness was 52.63% in 2025. Ranked 146th globally. This represents a 29.8% increase from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's trade openness peaked at 68.69% in 1990.
The lowest trade openness in Sierra Leone was 21.26% in 2008.
Sierra Leone ranks 146th globally in trade openness as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sierra Leone's trade openness is projected to reach 52.63% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade openness of Sierra Leone in 2025 was 52.63%. This ranks 146th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_trade-openness,
title = {Sierra Leone Trade Openness},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/trade-openness/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}