Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare was 86.56 current international $ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current international $.
Analysis
In 2023, out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone stood at 86.56 current international $.
That represents a change of up 4.4% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone peaked at 128.87 current international $ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 41.94 current international $, in 2001.
That places Sierra Leone 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | current international $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.63 current international $ | — |
| 2001 | 41.94 current international $ | -43.8% |
| 2002 | 50.75 current international $ | +21.0% |
| 2003 | 53.9 current international $ | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 55.21 current international $ | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 57.04 current international $ | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 58.15 current international $ | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 65.41 current international $ | +12.5% |
| 2008 | 70.55 current international $ | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 71.54 current international $ | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 60.01 current international $ | -16.1% |
| 2011 | 80.22 current international $ | +33.7% |
| 2012 | 86.98 current international $ | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 128.87 current international $ | +48.2% |
| 2014 | 124.32 current international $ | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 112.21 current international $ | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 114.87 current international $ | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 82.89 current international $ | -27.8% |
| 2018 | 85.34 current international $ | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 81.6 current international $ | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 80.62 current international $ | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 74.29 current international $ | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 82.94 current international $ | +11.6% |
| 2023 | 86.56 current international $ | +4.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 86.56 current international $ is above the median for low income countries, which is 42.42 current international $, 2.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 86.56 current international $ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.04 current international $, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 59.91 current international $ | 41.94 current international $ | 74.63 current international $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.73 current international $ | 60.01 current international $ | 128.87 current international $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.1 current international $ | 74.29 current international $ | 86.56 current international $ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 143 Senegal 91.14 current international $ compare
- 144 South Africa 90.6 current international $ compare
- 145 Syrian Arab Republic 88.66 current international $ compare
- 147 Angola 80.84 current international $ compare
- 148 Pakistan 80.51 current international $ compare
- 149 Namibia 80.04 current international $ compare
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 out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone?
- Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare in Sierra Leone was 86.56 current international $ in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 128.87 current international $ in 2013.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.94 current international $ in 2001.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare?
- Sierra Leone ranks 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. 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, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Out-of-pocket spending per capita on healthcare. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Out-of-pocket spending is defined as direct payments made by individuals to health care providers at the time of service use. This data is adjusted for differences in living costs between countries, but it is not adjusted for inflation.