Sierra Leone: jobs and pay

Are there recent official unemployment figures for Sierra Leone?

No official unemployment or wage figures more recent than the 2014 Labour Force Survey were found on the sites of Statistics Sierra Leone and the Bank of Sierra Leone, checked on 15 October 2026. The 2014 Labour Force Survey report is published by Stats SL.

Official sources: 2014 Labour Force Survey report

What is the unemployment rate in Sierra Leone?

Unemployment in Sierra Leone was 3.15% of the labour force in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank. Youth unemployment, for people aged 15 to 24, was 3.72%.

The estimate is produced by a model rather than a recent national survey, as the latest Stats SL labour force survey dates from 2014. Unemployment counts people who have no work at all and are looking for it. A low rate says nothing about whether work is regular or well paid: the same estimates put 86.0% of workers in vulnerable employment.

Official sources: World Bank · 3.72%

How many people in Sierra Leone are in the labour force?

53.4% of people aged 15 and over in Sierra Leone were in the labour force in 2025, either working or looking for work, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank. The rate has stayed between 53.3% and 53.7% since 2020.

People outside the labour force include students, people caring for families, retired people and those who have stopped looking for work. The figure is a model-based estimate built from older survey data, so small year-to-year changes should not be read as real movements.

Official sources: World Bank

What kind of work do people in Sierra Leone do?

86.0% of workers in Sierra Leone were in vulnerable employment in 2025, meaning they worked for themselves or in a family business without pay, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank. 44.5% of workers were employed in agriculture.

Vulnerable workers are less likely to have formal contracts, regular pay or social protection. The share has edged down from 87.5% in 2020, and the share in agriculture from 47.1%. Both figures are model-based estimates rather than new survey results.

Official sources: World Bank · 44.5% of workers

What is the minimum wage in Sierra Leone?

According to the ILO, the statutory minimum wage in Sierra Leone was 800 SLE a month in 2024. Its high point since 2012 was 2020, at 600,000 SLE a month; its low point was 2022, at 600 SLE a month.

What is Sierra Leone's unemployment rate?

According to the ILO, the unemployment rate in Sierra Leone was 3.1% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 4.7%; its low point was 2023, at 3.1%. It is 30th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.2%. Worldwide: 132nd of 174.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Sierra Leone?

The ILO puts unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Sierra Leone at 3.7% in 2025. The peak was 9.4% in 2014 and the low 3.5% in 2023. It is 36th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 8.8%. World rank, highest first: 160th of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in Sierra Leone?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 53.4%. The peak was 65.2% in 2005 and the low 53.3% in 2020. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 64.3%, and Sierra Leone placed 37th highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 138th highest.

What is female labour force participation in Sierra Leone?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate for women in Sierra Leone at 51.6% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 51.1% (2020) to 65.0% (2005). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 57.3%, and Sierra Leone placed 31st highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 103rd of 174.

What share of adults in Sierra Leone have a job?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 51.7%. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 62.8%; its low point was 2020, at 51.4%. It is 33rd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 58.8%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 127th highest.

How many workers in Sierra Leone are self-employed or family workers?

In 2025, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Sierra Leone was 86.0%, according to the ILO. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 67.6%, and Sierra Leone placed 2nd highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 2nd of 174.

How many people in Sierra Leone are employees?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Sierra Leone was 11.2% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 43rd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 29.0%. World rank, highest first: 172nd of 174.