Arms imports in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Arms imports was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Sierra Leone, 1973–2016
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values for arms imports in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 100.0% on the previous year and down 77.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Sierra Leone peaked at 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2012.
Sierra Leone ranks 151st of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1976 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -96.4% |
| 1978 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
| 1980 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2000.0% |
| 1983 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.6% |
| 1984 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +200.0% |
| 1987 | 18.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +500.0% |
| 1992 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -94.4% |
| 1994 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +600.0% |
| 1995 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
| 1997 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.3% |
| 1999 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -18.8% |
| 2006 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -30.8% |
| 2011 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.8% |
| 2012 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 2013 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 2015 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +100.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 40% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 25% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +2000.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.33 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 28.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
| 1980s | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4 |
| 1990s | 10.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 2000s | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 151 Burundi 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 151 Cameroon 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 151 Panama 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 151 Sudan 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 151 Togo 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 151 Palestine 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Sierra Leone
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Sierra Leone?
- Arms imports in Sierra Leone was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2016, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1980.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 2012.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for arms imports?
- Sierra Leone ranks 151st out of 173 countries with data for 2016.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.