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Economy of Sierra Leone vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Sierra Leone has a GDP of $7.55B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 157/197 and 124/197 by economy size, respectively.

Sierra Leone has $3.25B in government debt (44.3% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (71.2% of GDP) in Yemen.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Sierra Leone
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Yemen
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Sierra Leone Yemen
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $322,151,961 $2,005,356,249 - -
1961 $327,978,758 $2,041,634,017 - -
1962 $342,872,549 $2,134,343,945 - -
1963 $348,700,980 $2,170,621,713 - -
1964 $372,011,438 $2,315,732,958 - -
1965 $359,523,810 $2,482,006,192 - -
1966 $375,630,252 $2,524,200,297 - -
1967 $348,895,028 $2,525,116,116 - -
1968 $329,991,597 $2,576,121,538 - -
1969 $408,853,541 $2,795,747,409 - -
1970 $434,584,634 $3,036,754,626 - -
1971 $419,495,788 $3,142,006,005 - -
1972 $465,254,682 $3,170,291,432 - -
1973 $575,471,814 $3,241,832,807 - -
1974 $648,940,351 $3,355,291,389 - -
1975 $679,352,876 $3,411,298,469 - -
1976 $594,810,422 $3,395,975,723 - -
1977 $692,079,407 $3,397,560,822 - -
1978 $960,765,043 $3,479,317,421 - -
1979 $1,109,343,425 $3,636,278,670 - -
1980 $1,100,476,190 $3,812,401,965 - -
1981 $1,114,926,661 $3,922,253,604 - -
1982 $1,294,995,964 $4,109,806,182 - -
1983 $995,278,515 $4,023,385,112 - -
1984 $1,087,450,199 $4,188,063,643 - -
1985 $856,890,459 $3,965,621,323 - -
1986 $490,181,457 $4,014,638,262 - -
1987 $660,106,336 $4,304,947,544 - -
1988 $1,055,083,933 $4,000,157,258 - -
1989 $932,974,420 $4,029,358,406 - -
1990 $649,644,098 $4,164,341,831 $12,643,821,569 $23,917,787,986
1991 $779,981,987 $4,262,285,544 $14,665,445,462 $25,423,052,504
1992 $679,940,814 $3,451,901,040 $17,959,367,194 $27,509,674,488
1993 $768,867,883 $3,499,349,144 $21,736,802,664 $28,610,602,412
1994 $911,853,802 $3,431,203,335 $28,019,483,764 $30,533,792,550
1995 $870,740,292 $3,156,715,563 $12,796,345,679 $32,264,866,629
1996 $941,709,423 $3,212,078,681 $6,496,163,616 $33,760,332,652
1997 $850,232,760 $3,023,302,223 $6,838,298,531 $35,526,373,478
1998 $672,368,187 $3,077,268,550 $6,322,175,566 $37,660,334,235
1999 $669,386,624 $3,016,360,584 $7,639,325,296 $39,082,211,639
2000 $635,866,404 $3,217,030,904 $9,679,316,770 $41,498,240,974
2001 $1,681,473,894 $3,012,895,636 $9,852,990,693 $43,076,687,104
2002 $1,933,863,911 $3,812,040,143 $10,693,430,511 $44,771,854,466
2003 $2,142,618,046 $4,173,559,980 $11,777,532,662 $46,449,634,128
2004 $2,237,350,687 $4,443,958,502 $13,867,634,371 $48,294,937,071
2005 $2,545,275,313 $4,637,426,231 $16,731,566,717 $50,995,468,285
2006 $3,263,697,467 $4,836,052,320 $19,063,143,370 $52,612,233,385
2007 $3,632,957,611 $5,017,392,581 $21,650,528,674 $54,368,654,892
2008 $4,157,895,298 $5,202,336,667 $26,910,855,807 $56,351,789,349
2009 $3,953,403,098 $5,281,974,206 $25,130,278,213 $58,530,478,862
2010 $4,262,805,967 $5,617,678,842 $30,906,749,533 $63,038,676,059
2011 $4,861,632,885 $6,072,747,635 $32,726,417,878 $55,023,373,391
2012 $6,141,666,509 $6,715,143,020 $35,401,331,609 $56,340,077,326
2013 $7,502,762,863 $7,699,806,186 $40,415,233,436 $59,057,651,706
2014 $7,686,138,791 $7,098,065,168 $43,228,585,321 $58,946,215,682
2015 $6,788,352,975 $6,788,352,975 $42,444,490,074 $42,444,490,074
2016 $6,084,297,211 $7,225,348,889 $31,317,825,274 $38,465,266,573
2017 $5,749,846,528 $7,457,128,029 $26,842,229,045 $36,514,386,859
2018 $6,390,514,689 $7,672,926,607 $21,606,160,663 $36,789,138,484
2019 $6,526,183,564 $8,095,145,458 - -
2020 $6,693,888,876 $7,993,685,031 - -
2021 $7,173,379,137 $8,465,060,863 - -
2022 $7,124,465,160 $8,914,856,495 - -
2023 $6,411,787,856 $9,423,896,753 - -
2024 $7,547,843,281 $9,800,852,626 - -

Economic indicators

Sierra Leone Yemen
Gross domestic product
$7.55B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
157/197
2024
124/197
2018
GDP growth
17.7%
2023-2024
-19.5%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$873
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
183/197
2024
192/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,516
2024
$3,164
2013
Government debt
$3.25B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
44.3%
2025
71.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$376
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
174/185
2024
164/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,438
2025
$1,333
2025
Income share by richest 10%
29.4%
2018
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2018
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.7%
2025
9.59%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
9.4%
2024-2025
20.4%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
24.8%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.19%
2018
13.5%
2014
Population
8961932
42727988

GDP per capita in Sierra Leone vs Yemen

Sierra Leone's GDP per capita is $873, ranking 183/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 192/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Sierra Leone ranks 171st at $3,516, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Sierra Leone
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Sierra Leone Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $142 - - -
1961 $142.3 - - -
1962 $146.4 - - -
1963 $146.4 - - -
1964 $153.4 - - -
1965 $145.6 - - -
1966 $149.4 - - -
1967 $136.2 - - -
1968 $126.4 - - -
1969 $153.6 - - -
1970 $160.2 - - -
1971 $151.8 - - -
1972 $165.3 - - -
1973 $200.7 - - -
1974 $222.2 - - -
1975 $228.4 - - -
1976 $196.4 - - -
1977 $224.3 - - -
1978 $305 - - -
1979 $346 - - -
1980 $336 - - -
1981 $334 - - -
1982 $380 - - -
1983 $285.9 - - -
1984 $306 - - -
1985 $235.5 - - -
1986 $131.5 - - -
1987 $172.4 - - -
1988 $268.2 - - -
1989 $231.3 - - -
1990 $154.8 $1,382 $910 $1,742
1991 $183.7 $1,445 $1,016 $1,843
1992 $163.2 $1,220 $1,198 $1,963
1993 $185 $1,269 $1,397 $2,013
1994 $218.5 $1,266 $1,735 $2,115
1995 $208.4 $1,187 $764 $2,201
1996 $224.3 $1,225 $375 $2,268
1997 $199.9 $1,157 $383 $2,351
1998 $156.5 $1,180 $343 $2,442
1999 $155 $1,167 $401 $2,492
2000 $143.7 $1,242 $493 $2,624
2001 $358 $1,121 $487 $2,702
2002 $389 $1,360 $513 $2,768
2003 $414 $1,458 $549 $2,844
2004 $418 $1,541 $628 $2,949
2005 $463 $1,615 $734 $3,113
2006 $580 $1,698 $810 $3,205
2007 $632 $1,770 $890 $3,294
2008 $705 $1,824 $1,072 $3,370
2009 $653 $1,814 $969 $3,411
2010 $685 $1,900 $1,155 $3,603
2011 $761 $2,043 $1,186 $3,113
2012 $938 $2,317 $1,245 $3,005
2013 $1,117 $2,701 $1,379 $3,164
2014 $1,118 $2,762 $1,430 -
2015 $965 $2,560 $1,362 -
2016 $844 $2,635 $975 -
2017 $779 $2,501 $811 -
2018 $846 $2,640 $634 -
2019 $844 $2,705 - -
2020 $846 $2,721 - -
2021 $886 $2,852 - -
2022 $861 $3,147 - -
2023 $758 $3,371 - -
2024 $873 $3,516 - -

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Sierra Leone's government spending was $1.33B, accounting for 17.7% of its GDP, while Yemen's spent $3.08B, or 9.59% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 44.3% in Sierra Leone and 71.2% in Yemen, ranking 118/185 and 54/185, respectively.

Sierra Leone
Government spending

Government debt
Yemen
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Sierra Leone Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 - - 26.6% 91.6%
1991 - - 24.7% 82.7%
1992 - - 24.6% 78%
1993 - - 25.8% 76.7%
1994 - - 25.2% 73.3%
1995 - - 24.1% 84.1%
1996 - - 30.7% 114.9%
1997 - - 34.2% 74.2%
1998 - - 34.3% 110.6%
1999 - - 28.2% 96.1%
2000 10.3% - 31.7% 60.8%
2001 12% 113.5% 30.5% 60.6%
2002 12.6% 99.8% 30.8% 57.8%
2003 11.7% 99.8% 35.3% 56.8%
2004 11.1% 93.2% 34.2% 52.1%
2005 10.9% 78.9% 36.8% 43.8%
2006 9.97% 61.9% 37.4% 40.8%
2007 8.1% 26.4% 40.3% 40.4%
2008 10.3% 46.1% 41.2% 36.4%
2009 11.3% 31.1% 35.2% 49.8%
2010 12.5% 28.9% 30.2% 42.4%
2011 13.2% 25.8% 29.8% 45.7%
2012 13.5% 24.1% 36.2% 47.6%
2013 11.4% 22.3% 30.8% 48.4%
2014 13.5% 26.8% 27.8% 48.9%
2015 13.1% 28.8% 19.4% 57.7%
2016 14.9% 38.9% 16.1% 76.5%
2017 15% 44.2% 8.39% 83.8%
2018 13.7% 44.2% 14.3% 86.9%
2019 13.3% 45.3% 13.2% 91.5%
2020 15.6% 46.4% 10.6% 87%
2021 20.3% 47.1% 8.22% 75.9%
2022 19.5% 54% 12.2% 65.3%
2023 17.7% 49.9% 11.8% 77.9%
2024 17.6% 43% 8.91% 70.9%
2025 17.7% 44.3% 9.59% 71.2%

Government deficit by year

In 2018, Sierra Leone's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$228M, equivalent to -3.57% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of -$1.7B, or -7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 19 years, Sierra Leone recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Sierra Leone posted an annual deficit equal to -1.94% of GDP, compared to deficit of -4.03% of GDP for Yemen.

Deficit/surplus
Sierra Leone

Yemen
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Sierra Leone Yemen
1990 - -10.3%
1991 - -5.76%
1992 - -10.9%
1993 - -12.8%
1994 - -14%
1995 - -5.74%
1996 - -0.92%
1997 - -1.5%
1998 - -7.77%
1999 - 0.06%
2000 -1.94% 6.09%
2001 -3.22% 2.79%
2002 -3.03% -0.56%
2003 -2.78% -4.2%
2004 -1.46% -2.15%
2005 -1.17% -1.82%
2006 -0.93% 1.19%
2007 12.6% -7.18%
2008 -2.22% -4.53%
2009 -1.51% -10.2%
2010 -3.09% -4.06%
2011 -2.78% -4.51%
2012 -3.41% -6.32%
2013 -1.74% -6.9%
2014 -2.77% -4.14%
2015 -2.86% -8.75%
2016 -5.41% -8.51%
2017 -5.61% -4.9%
2018 -3.57% -7.85%
2019 -1.95% -5.89%
2020 -3.5% -4.3%
2021 -4.35% -0.89%
2022 -5.93% -2.15%
2023 -4.99% -5.63%
2024 -4.62% -2.48%
2025 -4.2% -3.73%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 30 years, Sierra Leone has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 14%, compared with 16.4% in Yemen. In 2025, inflation was 9.4% in Sierra Leone and 20.4% in Yemen.

Inflation
Sierra Leone

Yemen
Year Inflation
Sierra Leone Yemen Sierra Leone Yemen
1996 23.1% 38.8%
1997 14.6% 4.6%
1998 36% 11.5%
1999 34.1% 7.9%
2000 -0.9% 11%
2001 2.6% 11.9%
2002 0.1% 12.2%
2003 4% 10.8%
2004 12.9% 12.5%
2005 13.7% 9.9%
2006 10.5% 10.8%
2007 17% 7.9%
2008 8.2% 19%
2009 7.5% 3.7%
2010 7.2% 11.2%
2011 6.8% 19.5%
2012 6.6% 9.9%
2013 5.5% 11%
2014 4.6% 8.2%
2015 6.7% 22%
2016 10.9% 21.3%
2017 18.2% 30.4%
2018 16% 33.6%
2019 14.8% 15.7%
2020 13.4% 21.7%
2021 11.9% 31.5%
2022 27.2% 29.5%
2023 47.7% 0.9%
2024 28.4% 33.9%
2025 9.4% 20.4%

Balance of trade

Sierra Leone Yemen
Current account balance
-$606M
2023
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
106/189
2023
146/189
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
-9.46%
2023
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports
$1.92B
2023
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports
$1.34B
2023
$473M
2016
Service imports
$348M
2023
$1.46B
2016
Service exports
$42.5M
2023
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Sierra Leone Yemen
Economic freedom 48 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 173/197 140/197
Property rights 33.8 5.1
Government integrity 36 6.1
Judicial effectiveness 41.5 8.3
Tax burden 87.8 91.5
Government spending 89 95.6
Fiscal health 53.8 48.9
Business freedom 37 28.4
Labor freedom 23.7 30.7
Monetary freedom 50.2 54.6
Trade freedom 63.6 67.4
Investment freedom 40 50
Financial freedom 20 30

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Sierra Leone is 48, ranking 173/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 140/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Sierra Leone
Yemen
Year Economic freedom index
Sierra Leone Yemen
1995 49.8 49.8
1996 52.3 49.6
1997 45 48.4
1998 47.7 46.1
1999 47.2 43.3
2000 44.2 44.5
2001 - 44.3
2002 - 48.6
2003 42.2 50.3
2004 43.6 50.5
2005 44.8 53.8
2006 45.2 52.6
2007 47 54.1
2008 48.3 53.8
2009 47.8 56.9
2010 47.9 54.4
2011 49.6 54.2
2012 49.1 55.3
2013 48.3 55.9
2014 50.5 55.5
2015 51.7 53.7
2016 52.3 -
2017 52.6 -
2018 51.8 -
2019 47.5 -
2020 48 -
2021 51.7 -
2022 52 -
2023 50.2 -
2024 44.6 -
2025 48 -

More economic indicators

Sierra Leone Yemen
Services, % of GDP
44.8%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
27.3%
2024
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
25.4%
2024
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$7.26B
2024
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,490
2024
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold
$433M
2024
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking
160/177
2024
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$241M
2023
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$274M
2024
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$33.3K
2010
$3.33M
2019
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.44%
2023
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.8%
2018
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29.5%
2024
n/a

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.