# Sierra Leone Import Data | Yugalinks

> Published by **Yugalinks**, global trade intelligence for growing businesses.

Explore import demand for Sierra Leone with OECD trade data: sectors, suppliers, economy context, and trade history.

Canonical: https://www.yugalinks.com/trade/country-import/SLE

## Sierra Leone import demand overview

In 2024, Sierra Leone recorded $2.2B in reported imports. Ores, slag and ash was the largest displayed import sector by value.

## Country snapshot

| Measure | Value |
| --- | ---: |
| Latest imports | $2.2B |
| Import growth | +12.1% |
| Population | 8.6M |
| GDP per capita | $806.7 |
| Trade openness | 77.2% |

## Import sectors

| Rank | HS2 | Sector | Imports | Share | Import partners | Active HS6 |
| ---: | --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1 | 26 | Ores, slag and ash | $278.6K | 0% | 4 | 31 |
| 2 | 71 | Precious stones and metals | $1.3M | 0.1% | 18 | 21 |
| 3 | 18 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations | $6.0M | 0.3% | 23 | 9 |
| 4 | 85 | Electrical machinery | $210.4M | 9.4% | 76 | 258 |
| 5 | 15 | Animal and vegetable fats | $3.8M | 0.2% | 21 | 28 |
| 6 | 84 | Machinery | $250.8M | 11.3% | 64 | 496 |
| 7 | 09 | Coffee, tea and spices | $2.7M | 0.1% | 21 | 35 |
| 8 | 72 | Iron and steel | $54.0M | 2.4% | 21 | 158 |
| 9 | 76 | Aluminium | $21.9M | 1% | 32 | 28 |
| 10 | 03 | Fish and crustaceans | $2.6M | 0.1% | 18 | 77 |

## Import history

| Year | Imports | Exports | Balance |
| ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1995 | $207.2M | $71.6M | -$135.6M |
| 1996 | $255.1M | $91.7M | -$163.4M |
| 1997 | $174.2M | $74.2M | -$100.1M |
| 1998 | $145.1M | $48.6M | -$96.6M |
| 1999 | $151.1M | $78.3M | -$72.9M |
| 2000 | $282.0M | $133.2M | -$148.8M |
| 2001 | $372.9M | $87.7M | -$285.2M |
| 2002 | $507.2M | $158.2M | -$349.0M |
| 2003 | $487.5M | $196.7M | -$290.8M |
| 2004 | $461.4M | $224.5M | -$236.9M |
| 2005 | $568.8M | $220.5M | -$348.3M |
| 2006 | $477.8M | $278.7M | -$199.1M |
| 2007 | $620.7M | $377.5M | -$243.2M |
| 2008 | $762.0M | $349.1M | -$412.9M |
| 2009 | $668.1M | $255.4M | -$412.8M |
| 2010 | $809.3M | $338.7M | -$470.6M |
| 2011 | $1.5B | $471.8M | -$1.0B |
| 2012 | $1.5B | $923.2M | -$601.5M |
| 2013 | $1.2B | $1.7B | $534.7M |
| 2014 | $2.1B | $2.0B | -$42.6M |
| 2015 | $1.8B | $617.2M | -$1.2B |
| 2016 | $1.1B | $773.5M | -$305.8M |
| 2017 | $1.2B | $781.9M | -$393.3M |
| 2018 | $1.2B | $671.8M | -$522.9M |
| 2019 | $1.0B | $644.7M | -$375.2M |
| 2020 | $1.2B | $534.8M | -$691.8M |
| 2021 | $1.7B | $894.7M | -$759.9M |
| 2022 | $1.8B | $1.2B | -$586.6M |
| 2023 | $2.0B | $1.4B | -$599.9M |
| 2024 | $2.2B | $1.5B | -$766.9M |

## Data coverage

- Country: **Sierra Leone (SLE)**
- Coverage: **1995-2024**
- Publisher: [Yugalinks](https://www.yugalinks.com/)

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-29). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-29). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.