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Sierra Leone: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)

In , Sierra Leone's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.15.

That's up 1.5% from 2024, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Sierra Leone ranks #138 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #30 of 45.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2025

Trend (2006–2025)

Sierra Leone Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) trend 2008: Global financial crisis 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2008 · Global financial crisis
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
4.68
Trough
3.09
1-year change
+1.5%
5-year change
-10.2%
-2.1% / yr
10-year change
-29.7%
-3.5% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
3.1500
3.1030
3.0920
3.1370
3.5510
3.5090
3.2040
3.1920
3.6560
4.1820

About Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Indicator code: SL.UEM.TOTL.ZSCategory: Labor & Business

Frequently asked questions

What was Sierra Leone's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
In 2025, Sierra Leone's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.15, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Sierra Leone's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
Sierra Leone's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rose 1.5% from 2024 to 2025.
How does Sierra Leone rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
In 2025, Sierra Leone ranked #138 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
How does Sierra Leone's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) compare to the world average?
The global average for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025 was 6.73, so Sierra Leone is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #30 of 45.
What is Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) and how is it measured?
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.