Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Military expenditure as a share of government spending was 2.48 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone, 2000–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone stood at 2.48. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 41.3% on the previous year and down 44.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone peaked at 15.36 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.48, in 2025.
That places Sierra Leone 137th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.36 | — |
| 2001 | 14.36 | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 10.81 | -24.7% |
| 2003 | 10.91 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 8.75 | -19.8% |
| 2005 | 7.91 | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 8.94 | +12.9% |
| 2007 | 10.4 | +16.4% |
| 2008 | 5.84 | -43.8% |
| 2009 | 6.16 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 4.81 | -21.9% |
| 2011 | 4.03 | -16.3% |
| 2012 | 3.85 | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 4.11 | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 5.52 | +34.1% |
| 2015 | 4.45 | -19.3% |
| 2016 | 4.78 | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 4.52 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 3.41 | -24.6% |
| 2019 | 2.83 | -17.0% |
| 2020 | 3.11 | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 3.58 | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 3.48 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 3.91 | +12.2% |
| 2024 | 4.23 | +8.2% |
| 2025 | 2.48 | -41.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.48 is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.26, 27% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.48 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.9, 42% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.94 | 5.84 | 15.36 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.23 | 2.83 | 5.52 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.47 | 2.48 | 4.23 | 6 |
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 military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone?
- Military expenditure as a share of government spending in Sierra Leone was 2.48 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military expenditure as a share of government spending recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 15.36 in 2000.
- What is the lowest military expenditure as a share of government spending recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.48 in 2025.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for military expenditure as a share of government spending?
- Sierra Leone ranks 137th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure as a share of government spending rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Military expenditure as a share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).