Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes was 26,300 trips in 2021. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Sierra Leone, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in trips.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 26,300 trips for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in 2021.
That represents a change of up 56.5% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Sierra Leone peaked at 39,000 trips in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4,100 trips, in 1997.
Sierra Leone ranks 160th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | trips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 8,000 trips | — |
| 1996 | 11,300 trips | +41.2% |
| 1997 | 4,100 trips | -63.7% |
| 1998 | 6,800 trips | +65.9% |
| 1999 | 6,700 trips | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 9,900 trips | +47.8% |
| 2001 | 14,600 trips | +47.5% |
| 2002 | 17,100 trips | +17.1% |
| 2003 | 18,000 trips | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 29,000 trips | +61.1% |
| 2005 | 26,400 trips | -9.0% |
| 2006 | 21,200 trips | -19.7% |
| 2007 | 20,800 trips | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 23,000 trips | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 21,000 trips | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 22,000 trips | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 28,000 trips | +27.3% |
| 2012 | 30,000 trips | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 39,000 trips | +30.0% |
| 2014 | 21,400 trips | -45.1% |
| 2015 | 12,800 trips | -40.2% |
| 2016 | 27,300 trips | +113.3% |
| 2017 | 31,800 trips | +16.5% |
| 2018 | 34,400 trips | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 36,500 trips | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 16,800 trips | -54.0% |
| 2021 | 26,300 trips | +56.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 26,300 trips is below the median for low income countries, which is 166,350 trips, 16% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 26,300 trips is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 228,750 trips, 11% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7,380 trips | 4,100 trips | 11,300 trips | 5 |
| 2000s | 20,100 trips | 9,900 trips | 29,000 trips | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,320 trips | 12,800 trips | 39,000 trips | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,550 trips | 16,800 trips | 26,300 trips | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Sierra Leone?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Sierra Leone was 26,300 trips in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 39,000 trips in 2013.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,100 trips in 1997.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes?
- Sierra Leone ranks 160th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of international trips where the main purpose is personal (leisure, visiting friends and relatives, health, etc.) and the visitor stays overnight.