Domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Domestic general government health expenditure was 16.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone stood at 16.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.7% on the previous year and up 140.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone peaked at 22.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.5%, in 2015.
Sierra Leone ranks 173rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.6% | — |
| 2001 | 12.5% | +18.3% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 11.6% | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 11.3% | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | -19.0% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 10.1% | +24.1% |
| 2010 | 14.4% | +42.7% |
| 2011 | 10.7% | -25.9% |
| 2012 | 10.8% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | -35.5% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 9.1% | +37.1% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | +46.8% |
| 2020 | 14.6% | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 22.6% | +54.7% |
| 2022 | 18.1% | -20.0% |
| 2023 | 16.7% | -7.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 16.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.7%, 85% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 16.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.1%, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.8% | 8.1% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 6.5% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.0% | 14.6% | 22.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in Sierra Leone was 16.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.5% in 2015.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- Sierra Leone ranks 173rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic general government health expenditure rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 140.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic general government health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health. Domestic public sources include domestic revenue as internal transfers and grants, transfers, subsidies to voluntary health insurance beneficiaries, non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) or enterprise financing schemes as well as compulsory prepayment and social health insurance contributions. They do not include external resources spent by governments on health.