National Debt (% of GDP): Sierra Leone

Analysis# Sierra Leone National Debt (% of GDP) Sierra Leone's national debt stood at 38.6% of GDP in 2026, representing a dramatic recovery from its catastrophic 113.5% peak in 2001. Over this 25-year period, debt levels have declined 66%, though they remain above the nation's 22.3% low recorded in 2013. The country's debt trajectory reflects decades of fiscal consolidation following the civil war era, though progress has been uneven. Recent years reveal significant volatility and renewed improvement. Debt climbed steadily from 2017 through 2022, peaking at 54% before declining sharply to 41.2% by 2025. The downward momentum continuing into 2026 suggests strengthening fiscal discipline. Sustained debt reduction below 40% would mark a meaningful milestone in Sierra Leone's post-conflict economic stabilization.