Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average was 23,986 in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in Sierra Leone, 1987–2026
Source: World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.
Analysis
In 2026, official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Sierra Leone stood at 23,986. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and up 397.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Sierra Leone peaked at 23,986 in 2026 and was at its lowest, 31.87, in 1988.
That places Sierra Leone 6th out of 195 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 33.34 | — |
| 1988 | 31.87 | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 58.52 | +83.6% |
| 1990 | 148.5 | +153.8% |
| 1991 | 289.64 | +95.0% |
| 1992 | 489.95 | +69.2% |
| 1993 | 556.64 | +13.6% |
| 1994 | 575.36 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 740.85 | +28.8% |
| 1996 | 903 | +21.9% |
| 1997 | 962.58 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1,534 | +59.3% |
| 1999 | 1,770 | +15.4% |
| 2000 | 2,052 | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 1,948 | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 2,059 | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 2,303 | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 2,649 | +15.0% |
| 2005 | 2,834 | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 2,905 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 2,928 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 2,924 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 3,320 | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 3,901 | +17.5% |
| 2011 | 4,265 | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 4,260 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 4,252 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 4,319 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 4,309 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 4,819 | +11.8% |
| 2017 | 7,428 | +54.2% |
| 2018 | 7,967 | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 9,063 | +13.8% |
| 2020 | 9,808 | +8.2% |
| 2021 | 10,410 | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 13,985 | +34.3% |
| 2023 | 21,403 | +53.0% |
| 2024 | 22,640 | +5.8% |
| 2025 | 22,924 | +1.3% |
| 2026 | 23,986 | +4.6% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 23,986 is above the median for low income countries, which is 563.92, 42.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 23,986 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 563.92, 42.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +153.8% | 58.52 | 148.5 |
| 1991 | +95.0% | 148.5 | 289.64 |
| 1989 | +83.6% | 31.87 | 58.52 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.24 | 31.87 | 58.52 | 3 |
| 1990s | 796.97 | 148.5 | 1,770 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,592 | 1,948 | 3,320 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,458 | 3,901 | 9,063 | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,880 | 9,808 | 23,986 | 7 |
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 official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Sierra Leone?
- Official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average in Sierra Leone was 23,986 in 2026, according to World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data.
- What is the highest official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 23,986 in 2026.
- What is the lowest official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.87 in 1988.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average?
- Sierra Leone ranks 6th out of 195 countries with data for 2026.
- Is official exchange rate, lcu per usd, period average rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 397.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data, published as part of Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Official exchange rate refers to the exchange rate determined by national authorities or to the rate determined in the legally sanctioned exchange market. It is calculated as an annual average based on monthly averages (local currency units relative to the U.S. dollar).