Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 16.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 16.7% for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in 2023.
The figure is down 7.7% on the previous year and up 140.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sierra Leone peaked at 22.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.5%, in 2015.
That places Sierra Leone 173rd 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.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending 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
- 170 Sudan 20.7% compare
- 171 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 18.7% compare
- 172 Turkmenistan 17.1% compare
- 174 Armenia 15.7% compare
- 175 Syrian Arab Republic 14.9% compare
- 176 Burundi 14.7% 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 public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sierra Leone?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Sierra Leone was 16.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.5% in 2015.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Sierra Leone ranks 173rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending 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, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. 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.