Military expenditure (current LCU) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 732.10 million current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
732.10 million current LCU
Change on year
down 37.0%
World rank
148th
of 168 countries
All-time high
1.16 billion current LCU
in 2024
All-time low
1,379 current LCU
in 1961
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Military expenditure in Sierra Leone, 1960–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Sierra Leone stood at 732.10 million current LCU.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 37.0% on the previous year and up 267.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.16 billion current LCU in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,379 current LCU, in 1961.
Sierra Leone ranks 148th of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,400 current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 1,379 current LCU | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 1,417 current LCU | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 1,540 current LCU | +8.7% |
| 1964 | 1,681 current LCU | +9.2% |
| 1965 | 1,790 current LCU | +6.5% |
| 1966 | 1,814 current LCU | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 2,088 current LCU | +15.1% |
| 1968 | 2,215 current LCU | +6.1% |
| 1969 | 2,748 current LCU | +24.1% |
| 1970 | 3,322 current LCU | +20.9% |
| 1971 | 3,133 current LCU | -5.7% |
| 1972 | 3,391 current LCU | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 4,100 current LCU | +20.9% |
| 1974 | 5,800 current LCU | +41.5% |
| 1975 | 5,900 current LCU | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 6,700 current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1977 | 8,100 current LCU | +20.9% |
| 1978 | 8,500 current LCU | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 11,400 current LCU | +34.1% |
| 1980 | 16,700 current LCU | +46.5% |
| 1981 | 18,300 current LCU | +9.6% |
| 1982 | 17,500 current LCU | -4.4% |
| 1983 | 19,300 current LCU | +10.3% |
| 1984 | 24,900 current LCU | +29.0% |
| 1985 | 32,000 current LCU | +28.5% |
| 1986 | 116,300 current LCU | +263.4% |
| 1987 | 156,100 current LCU | +34.2% |
| 1988 | 293,000 current LCU | +87.7% |
| 1989 | 861,000 current LCU | +193.9% |
| 1990 | 1.88 million current LCU | +117.9% |
| 1991 | 6.85 million current LCU | +264.9% |
| 1992 | 13.32 million current LCU | +94.5% |
| 1993 | 13.24 million current LCU | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 15.55 million current LCU | +17.4% |
| 1995 | 18.90 million current LCU | +21.6% |
| 1996 | 17.12 million current LCU | -9.4% |
| 1997 | 9.31 million current LCU | -45.6% |
| 1998 | 15.72 million current LCU | +68.8% |
| 1999 | 30.67 million current LCU | +95.1% |
| 2000 | 48.77 million current LCU | +59.0% |
| 2001 | 59.41 million current LCU | +21.8% |
| 2002 | 56.95 million current LCU | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 66.84 million current LCU | +17.4% |
| 2004 | 62.03 million current LCU | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 68.06 million current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 83.00 million current LCU | +22.0% |
| 2007 | 86.80 million current LCU | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 70.50 million current LCU | -18.8% |
| 2009 | 89.40 million current LCU | +26.8% |
| 2010 | 99.70 million current LCU | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 110.80 million current LCU | +11.1% |
| 2012 | 129.27 million current LCU | +16.7% |
| 2013 | 137.28 million current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 220.83 million current LCU | +60.9% |
| 2015 | 199.30 million current LCU | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 271.14 million current LCU | +36.0% |
| 2017 | 291.03 million current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 236.04 million current LCU | -18.9% |
| 2019 | 221.20 million current LCU | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 319.60 million current LCU | +44.5% |
| 2021 | 449.00 million current LCU | +40.5% |
| 2022 | 582.30 million current LCU | +29.7% |
| 2023 | 824.10 million current LCU | +41.5% |
| 2024 | 1.16 billion current LCU | +41.1% |
| 2025 | 732.10 million current LCU | -37.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 732.10 million current LCU is below the median for low income countries, which is 216.60 billion current LCU, 0% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 732.10 million current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 122.65 billion current LCU, 1% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +263.4% | 32,000 current LCU | 116,300 current LCU |
| 1991 | +264.9% | 1.88 million current LCU | 6.85 million current LCU |
| 1989 | +193.9% | 293,000 current LCU | 861,000 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,807 current LCU | 1,379 current LCU | 2,748 current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,035 current LCU | 3,133 current LCU | 11,400 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 155,510 current LCU | 16,700 current LCU | 861,000 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.26 million current LCU | 1.88 million current LCU | 30.67 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.18 million current LCU | 48.77 million current LCU | 89.40 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 191.66 million current LCU | 99.70 million current LCU | 291.03 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 678.30 million current LCU | 319.60 million current LCU | 1.16 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More public sector data for Sierra Leone
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Arms imports 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2016)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.2776 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2016)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0003 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2016)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Sierra Leone?
- Military expenditure in Sierra Leone was 732.10 million current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.16 billion current LCU in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,379 current LCU in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for military expenditure?
- Sierra Leone ranks 148th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 267.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)