Sierra Leone
Africa · Western Africa
Recovering post-civil war: diamonds, Atlantic beaches, extremely low income.
At a Glance
📈Sierra Leone's Human Development Index
0.458
Low human development#182 of 191 countries worldwide, #46 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 5% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a West African country with a stunning Atlantic coastline of near-empty beaches, a capital in Freetown set on a peninsula of lush hills, and a culture of music, dance, and community warmth that has survived enormous challenges. The country is undervisited and genuinely hospitable, with a natural beauty that surprises most who arrive. It suits adventurous travellers who want a West African coastal experience without the tourist infrastructure of the Gambia or Senegal.
- Diamonds fuelled a decade-long civil war ending in 2002 — the origin of the term 'blood diamonds'.
- Introduced free healthcare for pregnant women and children before most wealthier African nations.
Quick Facts
Capital
Freetown
Language
English
Currency
Le SLE
Area
72,180 km²
Nomad Hub
GDP / Capita
$846
PPP / Capita
$4K
Inflation
7.5%
Unemployment
3.2%
GNI / Capita
$830
FDI Inflows
1.7%
Education Spend
2.6%
Price Level Index
96th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.314 → 0.458 (+0.144)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Sierra Leone for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →
💬Quick answers
What is Sierra Leone's Human Development Index?
Sierra Leone's Human Development Index is 0.458 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #182 of 191 countries.
Is Sierra Leone safe?
Sierra Leone scores 1.94 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #73 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
What is life expectancy in Sierra Leone?
Life expectancy at birth in Sierra Leone is 62.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #184 of 195 countries.