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Economy of Sierra Leone vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Sierra Leone has a GDP of $7.46B compared to $604B for Singapore, ranking 160/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

Sierra Leone has $3.38B in government debt (45.2% of GDP), compared to $1.03T (171.3% of GDP) in Singapore.

Sierra Leone vs Singapore GDP by year

Sierra Leone
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
Sierra Leone Singapore
2025 $7,464,157,904 $603,869,516,999
2024 $6,971,127,234 $572,877,260,178
2023 $6,415,852,766 $511,181,761,244
2022 $7,121,125,277 $514,252,535,239
2021 $7,166,931,483 $441,110,903,525
2020 $6,688,307,706 $351,226,533,656
2019 $6,523,577,590 $376,827,390,962
2018 $6,390,514,689 $377,976,367,877
2017 $5,749,846,528 $344,795,119,214
2016 $6,084,297,211 $320,759,207,439
2015 $6,788,352,975 $307,998,545,269
2014 $7,686,138,791 $314,863,580,758
2013 $7,502,762,863 $307,576,360,585
2012 $6,141,666,509 $295,092,888,077
2011 $4,861,632,885 $279,356,499,090
2010 $4,262,805,967 $239,807,980,591
2009 $3,953,403,098 $194,150,283,772
2008 $4,157,895,298 $193,617,323,539
2007 $3,632,957,611 $180,941,701,358
2006 $3,263,697,467 $148,627,286,361
2005 $2,545,275,313 $127,807,848,728
2004 $2,237,350,687 $115,033,593,101
2003 $2,142,618,046 $97,646,401,096
2002 $1,933,863,911 $92,538,372,870
2001 $1,681,473,894 $89,793,790,670
2000 $635,866,404 $96,076,539,926
1999 $669,386,624 $86,286,849,755
1998 $672,368,187 $85,728,207,782
1997 $850,232,760 $100,123,787,215
1996 $941,709,423 $96,293,086,513
1995 $870,740,292 $87,812,540,788
1994 $911,853,802 $73,688,724,431
1993 $768,867,883 $60,603,815,716
1992 $679,940,814 $52,131,320,033
1991 $779,981,987 $45,466,164,978
1990 $649,644,098 $36,144,336,769
1989 $932,974,420 $30,465,364,739
1988 $1,055,083,933 $25,371,462,488
1987 $660,106,336 $20,919,215,578
1986 $490,181,457 $18,586,746,057
1985 $856,890,459 $19,156,532,746
1984 $1,087,471,862 $19,749,361,098
1983 $995,104,305 $17,784,112,150
1982 $1,295,361,886 $16,084,252,378
1981 $1,114,830,472 $14,175,228,844
1980 $1,100,685,845 $11,896,256,783
1979 $1,109,374,911 $9,296,921,724
1978 $960,728,339 $7,517,176,355
1977 $691,777,584 $6,618,585,074
1976 $594,895,942 $6,327,077,974
1975 $679,336,344 $5,633,673,930
1974 $648,590,643 $5,221,534,956
1973 $575,230,724 $3,696,213,333
1972 $465,381,340 $2,721,440,981
1971 $419,549,305 $2,263,785,444
1970 $434,410,974 $1,920,574,150
1969 $408,690,163 $1,659,893,768
1968 $329,859,732 $1,425,706,091
1967 $348,795,303 $1,238,035,816
1966 $375,479,850 $1,096,425,608
1965 $359,379,856 $974,644,096
1964 $371,847,461 $894,153,311
1963 $348,547,279 $917,608,012
1962 $342,721,416 $826,239,212
1961 $327,834,191 $764,629,788
1960 $322,009,962 $704,751,700

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

GDP per capita in Sierra Leone vs Singapore by year

Sierra Leone
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Sierra Leone Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $846 - $98,814 -
2024 $807 $3,522 $94,897 $150,689
2023 $758 $3,368 $86,383 $143,786
2022 $860 $3,144 $91,228 $143,095
2021 $885 $2,849 $80,885 $132,617
2020 $845 $2,719 $61,773 $101,518
2019 $844 $2,704 $66,069 $105,335
2018 $846 $2,640 $67,033 $103,963
2017 $779 $2,501 $61,436 $95,744
2016 $844 $2,635 $57,204 $89,902
2015 $965 $2,560 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $1,118 $2,762 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $1,117 $2,701 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $938 $2,317 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $761 $2,043 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $685 $1,900 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $653 $1,814 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $705 $1,824 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $632 $1,770 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $580 $1,698 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $463 $1,615 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $418 $1,541 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $414 $1,458 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $389 $1,360 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $358 $1,121 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $143.7 $1,242 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $155 $1,167 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $156.5 $1,180 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $199.9 $1,157 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $224.3 $1,225 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $208.4 $1,187 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $218.5 $1,266 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $185 $1,269 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $163.2 $1,220 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $183.7 $1,445 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $154.8 $1,382 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $231.3 - $10,395 -
1988 $268.2 - $8,914 -
1987 $172.4 - $7,539 -
1986 $131.5 - $6,800 -
1985 $235.5 - $7,002 -
1984 $306 - $7,228 -
1983 $285.8 - $6,633 -
1982 $380 - $6,078 -
1981 $334 - $5,597 -
1980 $336 - $4,928 -
1979 $346 - $3,901 -
1978 $305 - $3,194 -
1977 $224.2 - $2,846 -
1976 $196.4 - $2,759 -
1975 $228.4 - $2,490 -
1974 $222.1 - $2,342 -
1973 $200.6 - $1,685 -
1972 $165.4 - $1,264 -
1971 $151.8 - $1,071 -
1970 $160.2 - $926 -
1969 $153.6 - $813 -
1968 $126.3 - $709 -
1967 $136.1 - $626 -
1966 $149.3 - $567 -
1965 $145.6 - $517 -
1964 $153.4 - $486 -
1963 $146.3 - $511 -
1962 $146.3 - $472 -
1961 $142.3 - $449 -
1960 $142 - $428 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

Sierra Leone's GDP per capita is $846, ranking 186/197, compared to $98,814 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Sierra Leone ranks 171st at $3,522, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

Sierra Leone Singapore
Gross domestic product
$7.46B
2025
$604B
2025
GDP rank
160/197
2025
28/197
2025
GDP growth
4.61%
2024-2025
5.03%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$846
2025
$98,814
2025
GDP per capita rank
186/197
2025
7/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,522
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
171/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$3.38B
2025
$1.03T
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
45.2%
2025
171.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$383
2025
$169,228
2025
Government debt per person rank
173/185
2025
1/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,418
2026
$51,296
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$824B
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
244,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
55
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.4%
2018
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2018
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.5%
2025
15.5%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
7.6%
2024-2025
0.9%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
16.8%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.65%
2018
3.26%
2025
Population
9090531
6167445

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Sierra Leone
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Sierra Leone Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 16.5% 45.2% 15.5% 171.3%
2024 17.6% 46.7% 14.3% 166%
2023 15.4% 49.4% 14.6% 170.4%
2022 16.7% 54% 14.9% 153.3%
2021 16.8% 47.1% 15.4% 139.9%
2020 15.6% 46.4% 24% 147.1%
2019 13.3% 45.3% 14% 127.7%
2018 13.7% 44.2% 13.9% 109.2%
2017 15% 44.2% 13.6% 107.3%
2016 14.9% 38.9% 15.2% 105.9%
2015 13.1% 28.4% 14.4% 102.1%
2014 13.5% 26.8% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 11.4% 22.3% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 13.5% 24.1% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 13.2% 25.8% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 12.5% 28.9% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 11.3% 31.1% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 10.3% 46.1% 14% 97.9%
2007 8.1% 26.4% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 9.97% 61.9% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 10.9% 78.9% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 11.1% 93.2% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 11.7% 99.8% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 12.6% 99.8% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 12% 113.5% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 10.3% - 16.1% 82.3%
1999 - - 15.9% 85.3%
1998 - - 18.1% 84.6%
1997 - - 14.5% 70.8%
1996 - - 18.1% 71.3%
1995 - - 13.8% 69.8%
1994 - - 11.7% 70.7%
1993 - - 14.5% 71.2%
1992 - - 14.5% 79%
1991 - - 15.9% 76.4%
1990 - - 15.1% 73.5%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

In 2025, Sierra Leone's government spending was $1.23B, accounting for 16.5% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $93.3B, or 15.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 45.2% in Sierra Leone and 171.3% in Singapore, ranking 115/185 and 5/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Sierra Leone

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Sierra Leone Singapore
2025 -4.2% 4.16%
2024 -5.16% 3.79%
2023 -4.99% 3.42%
2022 -5.93% 1.2%
2021 -4.35% 1.11%
2020 -3.5% -6.68%
2019 -1.95% 3.76%
2018 -3.57% 3.67%
2017 -5.61% 5.23%
2016 -5.41% 3.24%
2015 -2.86% 2.86%
2014 -2.77% 4.6%
2013 -1.74% 5.96%
2012 -3.41% 7.34%
2011 -2.78% 7.96%
2010 -3.09% 5.68%
2009 -1.51% -0.09%
2008 -2.22% 3.59%
2007 12.6% 7.12%
2006 -0.93% 2.16%
2005 -1.17% 2.56%
2004 -1.46% 2.06%
2003 -2.78% 0.68%
2002 -3.03% 2.23%
2001 -3.22% 1.2%
2000 -1.94% 4.59%
1999 - 5.2%
1998 - 2.41%
1997 - 5.66%
1996 - 1.98%
1995 - 4.8%
1994 - 7.9%
1993 - 4.36%
1992 - 2.7%
1991 - 0.68%
1990 - 1.97%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

In 2025, Sierra Leone's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $313M, equivalent to 4.2% of GDP. This compares to Singapore's surplus of $25.1B, or 4.16% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Sierra Leone recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, Sierra Leone posted an annual deficit equal to 2.58% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.21% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Sierra Leone

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Sierra Leone Singapore
2025 7.6% 0.9%
2024 28.4% 2.39%
2023 47.7% 4.83%
2022 27.2% 6.13%
2021 11.9% 2.32%
2020 13.4% -0.17%
2019 14.8% 0.57%
2018 16% 0.44%
2017 18.2% 0.58%
2016 10.9% -0.53%
2015 6.7% -0.52%
2014 4.6% 1.03%
2013 5.5% 2.36%
2012 6.6% 4.58%
2011 6.8% 5.25%
2010 7.2% 2.83%
2009 7.5% 0.59%
2008 8.2% 6.64%
2007 17% 2.11%
2006 10.5% 0.97%
2005 13.7% 0.43%
2004 12.9% 1.66%
2003 4% 0.51%
2002 0.1% -0.39%
2001 2.6% 1%
2000 -0.9% 1.36%
1999 34.1% 0.02%
1998 36% -0.27%
1997 14.6% 2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Sierra Leone has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 13.6%, compared with 1.71% in Singapore. In 2025, inflation was 7.6% in Sierra Leone and 0.9% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

Sierra Leone
Export category Export value
Singapore
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $22.8M
Raw materials & minerals $2.18M
Wood & paper products $563K
Machinery & equipment $442K
Chemicals & pharma $441K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $247K
Textiles & consumer goods $20K
Metals $7K

Balance of trade

Sierra Leone Singapore
Current account balance
-$984M
2024
$101B
2025
Current account balance ranking
115/190
2024
8/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.1%
2024
+16.7%
2025
Goods imports
$2.4B
2024
$475B
2025
Goods exports
$1.55B
2024
$652B
2025
Service imports
$514M
2024
$385B
2025
Service exports
$49.6M
2024
$422B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.2%
2025
142.5%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.9%
2025
177.9%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Sierra Leone Singapore
Economic freedom 49.6 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 165/197 1/197
Property rights 32.9 89.2
Government integrity 35.8 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 42 58.3
Tax burden 88.2 89.5
Government spending 92.4 93.4
Fiscal health 54.1 80
Business freedom 44.8 90.6
Labor freedom 38.2 77
Monetary freedom 53.6 83.5
Trade freedom 63.6 95
Investment freedom 30 90
Financial freedom 20 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Sierra Leone
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Sierra Leone Singapore
2026 49.6 84.4
2025 48 84.1
2024 44.6 83.5
2023 50.2 83.9
2022 52 84.4
2021 51.7 89.7
2020 48 89.4
2019 47.5 89.4
2018 51.8 88.8
2017 52.6 88.6
2016 52.3 87.8
2015 51.7 89.4
2014 50.5 89.4
2013 48.3 88
2012 49.1 87.5
2011 49.6 87.2
2010 47.9 86.1
2009 47.8 87.1
2008 48.3 87.3
2007 47 87.1
2006 45.2 88
2005 44.8 88.6
2004 43.6 88.9
2003 42.2 88.2
2002 - 87.4
2001 - 87.8
2000 44.2 87.7
1999 47.2 86.9
1998 47.7 87
1997 45 87.3
1996 52.3 86.5
1995 49.8 86.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Sierra Leone is 49.6, ranking 165/197, compared to 84.4 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Sierra Leone Singapore
Services, % of GDP
41.6%
2025
71.6%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
25.7%
2025
22.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
29.5%
2025
0.02%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$7.34B
2025
$500B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,690
2025
$135,750
2025
Total reserves including gold
$433M
2024
$432B
2025
Total reserves ranking
161/177
2024
11/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$122M
2024
-$64.9B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$122M
2024
$135B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$63.6B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.22%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.8%
2018
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.2%
2025
22.5%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/sierra-leone/singapore | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.