Sierra Leone Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate was 3.15% in 2025, ranked 45th globally. This represents a 1.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate stood at 3.15% in 2025, a rise of +0.05pp from 2024. Sierra Leone ranked 45th globally.
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate has exhibited a downward trend over the past 35 years, with a notable decline from its all-time peak of 4.68% in 2014 to a trough of 3.09% in 2023. This improvement brings the country's unemployment rate to 3.15% as of 2025, ranking it among the lower unemployment rates globally. In comparison, peer countries such as Nigeria, which has a similar unemployment rate, and Slovenia, which has a slightly higher rate at 3.17%, demonstrate that Sierra Leone's unemployment rate is competitive in the region. The steady decline in unemployment suggests that the country's labor market has been improving, potentially driven by growth in key sectors such as mining and agriculture. However, the trend may be impacted by future economic downturns or changes in global commodity prices, which could alter the trajectory of Sierra Leone's unemployment rate.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.15% | +0.05pp | #45 |
| 2024 | 3.10% | +0.01pp | #46 |
| 2023 | 3.09% | −0.04pp | #48 |
| 2022 | 3.14% | −0.41pp | #41 |
| 2021 | 3.55% | +0.04pp | #37 |
| 2020 | 3.51% | +0.31pp | #36 |
| 2019 | 3.20% | +0.01pp | #42 |
| 2018 | 3.19% | −0.46pp | #37 |
| 2017 | 3.66% | −0.53pp | #49 |
| 2016 | 4.18% | −0.30pp | #55 |
| 2015 | 4.48% | −0.20pp | #63 |
| 2014 | 4.68% | +0.30pp | #65 |
| 2013 | 4.38% | −0.00pp | #62 |
| 2012 | 4.38% | −0.01pp | #64 |
| 2011 | 4.39% | +0.05pp | #61 |
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 unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate was 3.15% in 2025. Ranked 45th globally. This represents a 1.5% increase from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate peaked at 4.68% in 2014.
The lowest unemployment rate in Sierra Leone was 3.09% in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 45th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Sierra Leone in 2025 was 3.15%. This ranks 45th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_unemployment-rate,
title = {Sierra Leone Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}