Sierra Leone vs South Sudan

Sierra Leone (Africa) and South Sudan (Africa) side by side. Each value is the latest available for that country, so the year may differ; the rank is among all countries of the world.

Over time

with the world for reference

GDP per capita

US$ · 2008-2015

Sierra Leone South Sudan World

0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10k 13k 2008 Sierra Leone: 705.36 South Sudan: 1,654.21 World: 9,425.74 2009 Sierra Leone: 652.85 South Sudan: 1,323.22 World: 8,827.04 2010 Sierra Leone: 685.04 South Sudan: 1,498.27 World: 9,555.07 2011 Sierra Leone: 761.15 South Sudan: 1,448.98 World: 10,496.93 2012 Sierra Leone: 937.5 South Sudan: 1,109.26 World: 10,597.85 2013 Sierra Leone: 1,117.47 South Sudan: 1,650.19 World: 10,759.35 2014 Sierra Leone: 1,117.76 South Sudan: 1,242.73 World: 10,912.24 2015 Sierra Leone: 964.58 South Sudan: 1,080.15 World: 10,191.98 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Life expectancy at birth

years · 1960-2024

Sierra Leone South Sudan World

0 20 40 60 80 1960 Sierra Leone: 33.09 South Sudan: 28.05 World: 50.94 1961 Sierra Leone: 33.63 South Sudan: 28.28 World: 52.8 1962 Sierra Leone: 34.16 South Sudan: 28.51 World: 55.29 1963 Sierra Leone: 34.71 South Sudan: 28.25 World: 55.65 1964 Sierra Leone: 35.3 South Sudan: 32.46 World: 56.1 1965 Sierra Leone: 35.93 South Sudan: 28.78 World: 55.93 1966 Sierra Leone: 36.64 South Sudan: 25.63 World: 56.45 1967 Sierra Leone: 37.28 South Sudan: 25.86 World: 56.9 1968 Sierra Leone: 37.76 South Sudan: 26.1 World: 57.34 1969 Sierra Leone: 38.23 South Sudan: 25.4 World: 57.68 1970 Sierra Leone: 38.62 South Sudan: 25.63 World: 57.94 1971 Sierra Leone: 39.1 South Sudan: 30.99 World: 58.02 1972 Sierra Leone: 39.51 South Sudan: 31.29 World: 58.84 1973 Sierra Leone: 39.96 South Sudan: 36.28 World: 59.3 1974 Sierra Leone: 40.41 South Sudan: 36.59 World: 59.7 1975 Sierra Leone: 40.99 South Sudan: 36.87 World: 60.13 1976 Sierra Leone: 41.43 South Sudan: 37.09 World: 60.45 1977 Sierra Leone: 41.83 South Sudan: 37.4 World: 61.04 1978 Sierra Leone: 42.19 South Sudan: 37.59 World: 61.39 1979 Sierra Leone: 42.53 South Sudan: 37.81 World: 61.84 1980 Sierra Leone: 42.84 South Sudan: 38.03 World: 62.15 1981 Sierra Leone: 43.09 South Sudan: 38.31 World: 62.52 1982 Sierra Leone: 43.3 South Sudan: 38.68 World: 62.87 1983 Sierra Leone: 43.46 South Sudan: 34.73 World: 63.13 1984 Sierra Leone: 43.56 South Sudan: 31.79 World: 63.44 1985 Sierra Leone: 43.56 South Sudan: 32.36 World: 63.73 1986 Sierra Leone: 43.5 South Sudan: 32.82 World: 64.12 1987 Sierra Leone: 43.75 South Sudan: 20.72 World: 64.46 1988 Sierra Leone: 43.77 South Sudan: 10.99 World: 64.67 1989 Sierra Leone: 43.74 South Sudan: 28.22 World: 64.96 1990 Sierra Leone: 43.72 South Sudan: 28.63 World: 65.11 1991 Sierra Leone: 43.29 South Sudan: 29.19 World: 65.3 1992 Sierra Leone: 43.45 South Sudan: 21.94 World: 65.55 1993 Sierra Leone: 43.43 South Sudan: 22.26 World: 65.74 1994 Sierra Leone: 42.81 South Sudan: 44.86 World: 65.96 1995 Sierra Leone: 42.58 South Sudan: 31.51 World: 66.2 1996 Sierra Leone: 43.53 South Sudan: 32.12 World: 66.52 1997 Sierra Leone: 43.65 South Sudan: 33.07 World: 66.83 1998 Sierra Leone: 42.71 South Sudan: 19.05 World: 67.07 1999 Sierra Leone: 41.96 South Sudan: 44.54 World: 67.31 2000 Sierra Leone: 44.83 South Sudan: 47.59 World: 67.65 2001 Sierra Leone: 45.45 South Sudan: 48.55 World: 67.95 2002 Sierra Leone: 46.17 South Sudan: 49.39 World: 68.23 2003 Sierra Leone: 46.78 South Sudan: 52.32 World: 68.52 2004 Sierra Leone: 47.49 South Sudan: 53.05 World: 68.77 2005 Sierra Leone: 48.31 South Sudan: 53.97 World: 69.11 2006 Sierra Leone: 49.55 South Sudan: 54.65 World: 69.47 2007 Sierra Leone: 50.02 South Sudan: 55.43 World: 69.81 2008 Sierra Leone: 50.69 South Sudan: 56.28 World: 70 2009 Sierra Leone: 51.31 South Sudan: 56.85 World: 70.38 2010 Sierra Leone: 51.93 South Sudan: 57.49 World: 70.68 2011 Sierra Leone: 52.59 South Sudan: 57.67 World: 70.97 2012 Sierra Leone: 53.16 South Sudan: 58.24 World: 71.26 2013 Sierra Leone: 54.05 South Sudan: 58.29 World: 71.53 2014 Sierra Leone: 54.28 South Sudan: 45.63 World: 71.78 2015 Sierra Leone: 55.45 South Sudan: 39.76 World: 71.97 2016 Sierra Leone: 56.94 South Sudan: 36.72 World: 72.19 2017 Sierra Leone: 57.76 South Sudan: 35.35 World: 72.37 2018 Sierra Leone: 59.06 South Sudan: 51.91 World: 72.64 2019 Sierra Leone: 59.59 South Sudan: 58.13 World: 72.87 2020 Sierra Leone: 59.69 South Sudan: 57.65 World: 72.18 2021 Sierra Leone: 60.26 South Sudan: 57.05 World: 71.22 2022 Sierra Leone: 61.28 South Sudan: 57.2 World: 72.97 2023 Sierra Leone: 61.79 South Sudan: 57.62 World: 73.33 2024 Sierra Leone: 61.96 South Sudan: 57.74 World: 73.48 1960 1980 1990 2000 2024

Fertility rate

1960-2024

Sierra Leone South Sudan World

2 4 6 8 1960 Sierra Leone: 6.18 South Sudan: 7.16 World: 4.69 1961 Sierra Leone: 6.21 South Sudan: 7.18 World: 4.56 1962 Sierra Leone: 6.22 South Sudan: 7.2 World: 5.02 1963 Sierra Leone: 6.26 South Sudan: 7.2 World: 5.31 1964 Sierra Leone: 6.29 South Sudan: 7.22 World: 5.13 1965 Sierra Leone: 6.31 South Sudan: 7.22 World: 5.08 1966 Sierra Leone: 6.35 South Sudan: 7.25 World: 4.97 1967 Sierra Leone: 6.38 South Sudan: 7.26 World: 4.87 1968 Sierra Leone: 6.39 South Sudan: 7.26 World: 4.98 1969 Sierra Leone: 6.39 South Sudan: 7.28 World: 4.88 1970 Sierra Leone: 6.41 South Sudan: 7.29 World: 4.84 1971 Sierra Leone: 6.43 South Sudan: 7.3 World: 4.69 1972 Sierra Leone: 6.45 South Sudan: 7.31 World: 4.55 1973 Sierra Leone: 6.47 South Sudan: 7.31 World: 4.42 1974 Sierra Leone: 6.53 South Sudan: 7.31 World: 4.26 1975 Sierra Leone: 6.55 South Sudan: 7.33 World: 4.07 1976 Sierra Leone: 6.55 South Sudan: 7.33 World: 3.97 1977 Sierra Leone: 6.57 South Sudan: 7.33 World: 3.84 1978 Sierra Leone: 6.59 South Sudan: 7.33 World: 3.77 1979 Sierra Leone: 6.58 South Sudan: 7.32 World: 3.76 1980 Sierra Leone: 6.56 South Sudan: 7.33 World: 3.73 1981 Sierra Leone: 6.55 South Sudan: 7.33 World: 3.71 1982 Sierra Leone: 6.56 South Sudan: 7.34 World: 3.72 1983 Sierra Leone: 6.57 South Sudan: 7.34 World: 3.59 1984 Sierra Leone: 6.59 South Sudan: 7.35 World: 3.57 1985 Sierra Leone: 6.59 South Sudan: 7.36 World: 3.53 1986 Sierra Leone: 6.6 South Sudan: 7.38 World: 3.51 1987 Sierra Leone: 6.61 South Sudan: 7.39 World: 3.48 1988 Sierra Leone: 6.59 South Sudan: 7.38 World: 3.39 1989 Sierra Leone: 6.57 South Sudan: 7.37 World: 3.35 1990 Sierra Leone: 6.57 South Sudan: 7.38 World: 3.31 1991 Sierra Leone: 6.55 South Sudan: 7.38 World: 3.13 1992 Sierra Leone: 6.56 South Sudan: 7.37 World: 3.04 1993 Sierra Leone: 6.57 South Sudan: 7.36 World: 2.97 1994 Sierra Leone: 6.56 South Sudan: 7.35 World: 2.92 1995 Sierra Leone: 6.56 South Sudan: 7.34 World: 2.87 1996 Sierra Leone: 6.55 South Sudan: 7.32 World: 2.82 1997 Sierra Leone: 6.53 South Sudan: 7.2 World: 2.78 1998 Sierra Leone: 6.5 South Sudan: 7.08 World: 2.75 1999 Sierra Leone: 6.42 South Sudan: 6.94 World: 2.72 2000 Sierra Leone: 6.36 South Sudan: 6.8 World: 2.73 2001 Sierra Leone: 6.31 South Sudan: 6.65 World: 2.69 2002 Sierra Leone: 6.23 South Sudan: 6.52 World: 2.66 2003 Sierra Leone: 6.09 South Sudan: 6.35 World: 2.64 2004 Sierra Leone: 5.92 South Sudan: 6.19 World: 2.63 2005 Sierra Leone: 5.81 South Sudan: 6.02 World: 2.61 2006 Sierra Leone: 5.74 South Sudan: 5.85 World: 2.61 2007 Sierra Leone: 5.64 South Sudan: 5.7 World: 2.6 2008 Sierra Leone: 5.56 South Sudan: 5.57 World: 2.6 2009 Sierra Leone: 5.45 South Sudan: 5.45 World: 2.59 2010 Sierra Leone: 5.33 South Sudan: 5.32 World: 2.57 2011 Sierra Leone: 5.21 South Sudan: 5.19 World: 2.55 2012 Sierra Leone: 5.06 South Sudan: 5.06 World: 2.56 2013 Sierra Leone: 4.87 South Sudan: 4.94 World: 2.53 2014 Sierra Leone: 4.7 South Sudan: 4.82 World: 2.52 2015 Sierra Leone: 4.55 South Sudan: 4.7 World: 2.49 2016 Sierra Leone: 4.47 South Sudan: 4.58 World: 2.49 2017 Sierra Leone: 4.39 South Sudan: 4.48 World: 2.46 2018 Sierra Leone: 4.29 South Sudan: 4.37 World: 2.39 2019 Sierra Leone: 4.19 South Sudan: 4.26 World: 2.35 2020 Sierra Leone: 4.08 South Sudan: 4.16 World: 2.28 2021 Sierra Leone: 3.98 South Sudan: 4.05 World: 2.25 2022 Sierra Leone: 3.88 South Sudan: 3.96 World: 2.22 2023 Sierra Leone: 3.79 South Sudan: 3.86 World: 2.2 2024 Sierra Leone: 3.7 South Sudan: 3.79 World: 2.19 1960 1980 1990 2000 2024

Unemployment rate (modelled ILO estimate)

% · 1991-2023

Sierra Leone South Sudan World

3 5 8 10 13 15 1991 Sierra Leone: 4.14 South Sudan: 12.33 World: 5.12 1992 Sierra Leone: 4.38 South Sudan: 12.37 World: 5.28 1993 Sierra Leone: 4.4 South Sudan: 12.23 World: 5.54 1994 Sierra Leone: 4.46 South Sudan: 12.33 World: 5.79 1995 Sierra Leone: 4.32 South Sudan: 12.33 World: 5.92 1996 Sierra Leone: 4.31 South Sudan: 12.31 World: 5.98 1997 Sierra Leone: 4.36 South Sudan: 12.07 World: 6.01 1998 Sierra Leone: 4.24 South Sudan: 12.1 World: 6.16 1999 Sierra Leone: 4.29 South Sudan: 12.14 World: 6.28 2000 Sierra Leone: 4.14 South Sudan: 12.31 World: 6.11 2001 Sierra Leone: 4.24 South Sudan: 12.28 World: 6.19 2002 Sierra Leone: 3.91 South Sudan: 12.24 World: 6.41 2003 Sierra Leone: 3.88 South Sudan: 12.23 World: 6.48 2004 Sierra Leone: 3.42 South Sudan: 12.26 World: 6.33 2005 Sierra Leone: 3.73 South Sudan: 12.27 World: 6.22 2006 Sierra Leone: 3.89 South Sudan: 12.27 World: 5.97 2007 Sierra Leone: 4.02 South Sudan: 12.27 World: 5.77 2008 Sierra Leone: 4.13 South Sudan: 12.3 World: 5.82 2009 Sierra Leone: 4.27 South Sudan: 12.44 World: 6.41 2010 Sierra Leone: 4.34 South Sudan: 12.47 World: 6.28 2011 Sierra Leone: 4.39 South Sudan: 12.59 World: 6.15 2012 Sierra Leone: 4.38 South Sudan: 12.8 World: 6.15 2013 Sierra Leone: 4.38 South Sudan: 12.67 World: 6.1 2014 Sierra Leone: 4.68 South Sudan: 12.56 World: 5.96 2015 Sierra Leone: 4.48 South Sudan: 12.46 World: 6 2016 Sierra Leone: 4.18 South Sudan: 12.85 World: 5.97 2017 Sierra Leone: 3.66 South Sudan: 12.98 World: 5.9 2018 Sierra Leone: 3.19 South Sudan: 12.85 World: 5.76 2019 Sierra Leone: 3.2 South Sudan: 12.66 World: 5.59 2020 Sierra Leone: 3.51 South Sudan: 14.25 World: 6.59 2021 Sierra Leone: 3.55 South Sudan: 13.95 World: 6.05 2022 Sierra Leone: 3.14 South Sudan: 12.48 World: 5.23 2023 Sierra Leone: 3.09 South Sudan: 12.37 World: 4.85 1991 2001 2006 2011 2023

Individuals using the internet

% · 2012-2019

Sierra Leone South Sudan World

0 20 40 60 2012 Sierra Leone: 2.5 South Sudan: 1.5 World: 33.3 2013 Sierra Leone: 4 South Sudan: 2.2 World: 35.3 2014 Sierra Leone: 6.06 South Sudan: 2.6 World: 37.4 2015 Sierra Leone: 6.34 South Sudan: 3 World: 39.9 2016 Sierra Leone: 7.68 South Sudan: 3.5 World: 43.6 2017 Sierra Leone: 9.3 South Sudan: 4.1 World: 46.3 2018 Sierra Leone: 14.42 South Sudan: 4.8 World: 49.4 2019 Sierra Leone: 15.71 South Sudan: 6.67 World: 53.9 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Population

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Population 8.8 mn 2025
100th of 215		 12.2 mn 2025
80th of 215
Population density 117.2 /km² 2023
89th of 214		 18.2 /km² 2023
188th of 214
Population growth 2.04 % 2025
47th of 215		 2.03 % 2025
48th of 215
Life expectancy 62.0 years 2024
204th of 215		 57.7 years 2024
212th of 215
Fertility rate 3.70 2024
35th of 215		 3.79 2024
32nd of 215
Birth rate 30.1 ‰ 2024
29th of 215		 29.2 ‰ 2024
34th of 215
Infant mortality 54.6 ‰ 2024
185th of 196		 71.9 ‰ 2024
196th of 196
Urban population 45.9 % 2025
157th of 215		 21.7 % 2025
208th of 215
Aged 65+ 3.3 % 2025
183rd of 215		 3.1 % 2025
190th of 215
Living in cities 37.8 % 2025
107th of 215		 33.5 % 2025
125th of 215
Living in towns 19.9 % 2025
185th of 215		 31.9 % 2025
103rd of 215
Living in rural areas 42.3 % 2025
36th of 215		 34.6 % 2025
63rd of 215

Human development

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Human Development Index 0.467 2023
185th of 193		 0.388 2023
193rd of 193
Inequality-adjusted HDI 0.281 2023
163rd of 169		 0.226 2023
169th of 169
Planetary-adjusted HDI 0.459 2023
147th of 156		 0.383 2023
155th of 156
Gender Inequality Index 0.566 2023
152nd of 172		 -

Economy

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
GDP 7.5 bn US$ 2025
151st of 186		 12 bn US$ 2015
GDP per capita 846 US$ 2025
178th of 186		 1,080 US$ 2015
GDP per capita (PPP) 3,717 int. $ 2025
165th of 185		 1,155 int. $ 2015
GNI per capita 830 US$ 2025
174th of 182		 1,050 US$ 2015
GDP growth 4.6 % 2025
52nd of 186		 -10.8 % 2015
Inflation 7.5 % 2025
28th of 165		 91.4 % 2024
Trade 49.1 % 2025
107th of 138		 65.6 % 2015
Exports 20.9 % 2025
111th of 138		 36.7 % 2015
FDI inflows 1.7 % 2024
118th of 192		 0.0 % 2015
Manufacturing 7.0 % 2024 3.5 % 2015
Agriculture 29.5 % 2025
11th of 158		 10.4 % 2015
Military spending 0.5 % 2024
138th of 147		 2.0 % 2024
60th of 147

Labour

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Unemployment 3.2 % 2025
45th of 181		 12.4 % 2023
Youth unemployment 3.7 % 2025
15th of 181		 18.5 % 2023
Women in the labour force 51.6 % 2025
107th of 181		 70.4 % 2023
Jobs in agriculture 44.5 % 2025
31st of 181		 63.8 % 2023
Weekly hours worked 43.0 h 2025
40th of 181		 37.6 h 2023
Youth NEET rate 30.8 % 2025
159th of 181		 34.1 % 2023
Labour income share 36.9 % 2022 37.6 % 2023
Output per hour 4.4 $ 2025
160th of 181		 3.6 $ 2023

Health

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Health spending 4.7 % 2023
130th of 192		 11.6 % 2023
11th of 192
Health spending per person 36 US$ 2023
178th of 191		 73 US$ 2023
158th of 191
Physicians 0.13 /1,000 2022
111th of 125		 0.04 /1,000 2022
123rd of 125
Under-5 mortality 90.5 ‰ 2024
190th of 196		 96.7 ‰ 2024
192nd of 196
Maternal mortality 354 /100k 2023
176th of 194		 692 /100k 2023
192nd of 194
Tobacco use 11.3 % 2024
42nd of 166		 -
Safe drinking water 10.9 % 2024
144th of 147		 -

Food

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Calories per person 2,405 kcal 2024
136th of 155		 2,458 kcal 2024
130th of 155
Protein supply 57.9 g 2022
157th of 174		 -
Animal protein supply 14.2 g 2022
159th of 174		 -
Fat supply 37.7 g 2022
170th of 174		 -
Food insecurity 88.1 % 2024
133rd of 134		 88.8 % 2024
134th of 134
Severe food insecurity 31.9 % 2024
119th of 124		 62.9 % 2024
124th of 124
Cereal import dependency 28.2 % 2022
100th of 160		 -

Education

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Literacy 43.6 % 2019 -
Secondary enrolment 86.9 % 2023 122.1 % 2024
8th of 108
Education spending 2.6 % 2023
94th of 121		 1.6 % 2016
Expected schooling 9.1 yrs 2023
178th of 195		 5.6 yrs 2023
195th of 195
Mean schooling 3.5 yrs 2023
182nd of 193		 5.7 yrs 2023
163rd of 193

Society

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Income inequality 35.7 2018
51st of 93		 44.0 2016
Extreme poverty 41.5 % 2018
89th of 93		 76.5 % 2016
Internet use 25.1 % 2024
169th of 182		 6.7 % 2019
Mobile subscriptions 107.9 /100 2022 46.6 /100 2023
Electricity access 39.2 % 2024
203rd of 213		 5.4 % 2024
213th of 213
Women in parliament 29.5 % 2025
79th of 184		 32.4 % 2025
60th of 184

Refugees

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Refugees hosted 0 2025
176th of 177		 601,818 2025
13th of 177
Refugees hosted per 1,000 0.0 ‰ 2025
176th of 177		 49.4 ‰ 2025
6th of 177
Asylum-seekers hosted 0 2025
173rd of 177		 3,246 2025
79th of 177
Refugees from the country 8,925 2025
66th of 199		 2.4 mn 2025
5th of 199
Refugees from per 1,000 1.0 ‰ 2025
60th of 199		 195.8 ‰ 2025
1st of 199

Governance

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Control of corruption 33.6 /100 2024
150th of 207		 6.1 /100 2024
207th of 207
Government effectiveness 32.5 /100 2024
176th of 205		 9.1 /100 2024
205th of 205
Rule of law 42.5 /100 2024
152nd of 207		 23.0 /100 2024
205th of 207
Regulatory quality 38.2 /100 2024
179th of 205		 24.4 /100 2024
203rd of 205
Voice and accountability 47.9 /100 2024
129th of 205		 23.7 /100 2024
200th of 205
Political stability 58.2 /100 2024
144th of 207		 40.4 /100 2024
185th of 207

Environment

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
CO₂ per capita 0.17 t 2024
22nd of 202		 -
Fossil CO₂ emissions 1.4 Mt 2024
161st of 204		 1.7 Mt 2024
158th of 204
Share of global CO₂ 0.00 % 2024
161st of 204		 0.00 % 2024
158th of 204
Cumulative CO₂ 0.0 Gt 2024
164th of 204		 0.0 Gt 2024
162nd of 204
GHG per capita 0.92 t 2024
19th of 202		 -
Renewable energy 71.6 % 2022
29th of 211		 32.4 % 2021
76th of 211
Forest area 34.3 % 2023
92nd of 212		 11.3 % 2023
157th of 212
PM2.5 exposure 22.5 µg/m³ 2023
132nd of 200		 23.7 µg/m³ 2023
136th of 200
Water stress 0.5 % 2022
11th of 176		 4.2 % 2022
50th of 176
Land area 72,180 km² 2023
117th of 214		 631,930 km² 2023
41st of 214

Energy

Indicator Sierra Leone South Sudan
Renewable electricity 95.2 % 2024
15th of 190		 1.8 % 2024
177th of 190
Wind and solar 9.5 % 2024
75th of 190		 1.8 % 2024
133rd of 190
Nuclear power 0.0 % 2024
152nd of 180		 0.0 % 2024
155th of 180
Low-carbon electricity 95.2 % 2024
18th of 190		 1.8 % 2024
177th of 190
Fossil electricity 4.8 % 2024
18th of 190		 98.2 % 2024
177th of 190
Coal power 0.0 % 2024
88th of 188		 0.0 % 2024
90th of 188
Carbon intensity of power 57 g/kWh 2024
15th of 190		 646 g/kWh 2024
163rd of 190
Electricity per capita 0.02 MWh 2024
189th of 191		 0.05 MWh 2024
186th of 191

Sources: World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), ILO modelled estimates, FAO (FAOSTAT), UNDP (Human Development Report), UNHCR Refugee Population Statistics Database, Ember (electricity), the Global Carbon Project (CO₂) and the UN World Population Prospects and World Urbanization Prospects, under CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0 IGO. Ranks are computed by StatsNode in the latest year for which at least half of the countries have a value. Sources and licences.