Total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total natural resource rents was 9.0% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone, 1970–2021
Source: The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone is 9.0%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 9.8% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone peaked at 22.0% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2013.
That places Sierra Leone 53rd out of 211 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.8% | — |
| 1971 | 7.8% | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 7.5% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 8.2% | +9.2% |
| 1974 | 9.3% | +13.3% |
| 1975 | 10.8% | +16.2% |
| 1976 | 10.2% | -5.1% |
| 1977 | 15.3% | +49.4% |
| 1978 | 11.3% | -26.1% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | -21.6% |
| 1980 | 10.5% | +18.4% |
| 1981 | 9.0% | -13.9% |
| 1982 | 10.5% | +16.7% |
| 1983 | 10.3% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 9.3% | -9.5% |
| 1985 | 9.6% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 22.0% | +129.3% |
| 1987 | 14.3% | -35.1% |
| 1988 | 10.0% | -30.0% |
| 1989 | 12.5% | +25.1% |
| 1990 | 19.8% | +58.2% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | -21.1% |
| 1992 | 18.4% | +17.5% |
| 1993 | 11.8% | -35.8% |
| 1994 | 11.4% | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 15.9% | +39.8% |
| 1996 | 14.6% | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 16.2% | +11.0% |
| 1998 | 21.7% | +33.6% |
| 1999 | 13.4% | -38.3% |
| 2000 | 14.3% | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | -43.5% |
| 2002 | 8.4% | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 12.9% | +52.6% |
| 2004 | 11.1% | -13.8% |
| 2005 | 9.9% | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | +30.0% |
| 2008 | 11.6% | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 12.3% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 10.5% | -14.2% |
| 2011 | 11.0% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | -26.0% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +11.1% |
| 2015 | 10.6% | +31.7% |
| 2016 | 14.7% | +38.8% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | -42.7% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | -12.4% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | +9.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 9.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 10.3%, 87% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 9.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.7%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.7% | 7.5% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.8% | 9.0% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 11.4% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.0% | 8.1% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.3% | 7.2% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 8.2% | 9.0% | 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 total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone?
- Total natural resource rents in Sierra Leone was 9.0% in 2021, according to The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total natural resource rents recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 22.0% in 1986.
- What is the lowest total natural resource rents recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2013.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total natural resource rents?
- Sierra Leone ranks 53rd out of 211 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total natural resource rents rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total natural resource rents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Natural resources rents are estimated as the difference between the price of a commodity and the average cost of producing it. Total natural resources rents are the sum of oil rents, natural gas rents, coal rents, mineral rents, and forest rents.