Ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Ores and metals exports was 19.7% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
19.7%
Change on year
up 113.4%
World rank
28th
of 194 countries
All-time high
86.4%
in 2014
All-time low
0.1%
in 2002
Years of data
16
1963–2018

Ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone, 1963–2018

0204060801963199020181963: 20 % of merchandise exports1964: 17.8 % of merchandise exports1972: 15.4 % of merchandise exports1973: 14.3 % of merchandise exports1974: 14.3 % of merchandise exports1975: 14.2 % of merchandise exports1976: 6.7 % of merchandise exports1983: 30.4 % of merchandise exports1984: 36.1 % of merchandise exports2000: 1.4 % of merchandise exports2002: 0.115 % of merchandise exports2014: 86.4 % of merchandise exports2015: 0.989 % of merchandise exports2016: 0.523 % of merchandise exports2017: 9.2 % of merchandise exports2018: 19.7 % of merchandise exports

Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.

Analysis

Sierra Leone recorded 19.7% for ores and metals exports in 2018.

That represents a change of up 113.4% on the previous year and down 77.2% over five years.

Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone peaked at 86.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2002.

That places Sierra Leone 28th out of 194 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone, year by year

Annual values for Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Sierra Leone, 1963 to 2018.
Year % of merchandise exports Change
1963 20.0%
1964 17.8% -10.7%
1972 15.4% -13.9%
1973 14.3% -7.0%
1974 14.3% -0.2%
1975 14.2% -0.6%
1976 6.7% -53.1%
1983 30.4% +357.3%
1984 36.1% +18.7%
2000 1.4% -96.2%
2002 0.1% -91.5%
2014 86.4% +75046.2%
2015 1.0% -98.9%
2016 0.5% -47.2%
2017 9.2% +1667.7%
2018 19.7% +113.4%

Sierra Leone compared with similar countries

  • Sierra Leone's 19.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.8%, 23.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
  • Sierra Leone's 19.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 8.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Ores and metals exports 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.

YearChange FromTo
2014 +75046.2% 0.1% 86.4%
2017 +1667.7% 0.5% 9.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 18.9% 17.8% 20.0% 2
1970s 13.0% 6.7% 15.4% 5
1980s 33.3% 30.4% 36.1% 2
2000s 0.7% 0.1% 1.4% 2
2010s 23.4% 0.5% 86.4% 5

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 25 Rwanda 20.9% compare
  2. 26 Togo 20.7% compare
  3. 27 Lao People's Democratic Republic 20.2% compare
  4. 29 Kyrgyzstan 18.6% compare
  5. 30 Montenegro 16.4% compare
  6. 31 Armenia 16.1% compare

See the full ranking of 240 places →

More energy & mining data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone?
Ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone was 19.7% in 2018, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 86.4% in 2014.
What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2002.
How does Sierra Leone rank for ores and metals exports?
Sierra Leone ranks 28th out of 194 countries with data for 2018.
Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Ores and metals exports in Sierra Leone. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/ores-and-metals-exports-percent-of-merchandise-exports/sierra-leone/

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About this data

Indicator
Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports)
Unit
% of merchandise exports
Source
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
240 places, 9,796 data points, 1962–2025
Last refreshed

Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.