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Namibia vs Sierra Leone
Side-by-side comparison of Namibia and Sierra Leone from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Sierra Leone
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 55 years
In short
Namibia scores 31.8 in the NationsTree Index (159th in the world) and Sierra Leone scores 27.3 (166th), a gap of 4.5 points. Their trees are 3.3 m and 3.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sierra Leone has 2.9 times the population of Namibia. Namibia is 11 times larger than Sierra Leone by land area. The economy of Namibia is 13% larger than that of Sierra Leone (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Namibia 3.1 million and Sierra Leone 8.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $11,986 in Namibia and $3,717 in Sierra Leone (2025, international dollars). People in Namibia live on average 5.6 years longer (67.5 vs 62.0 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Namibia ranks higher in the world on 19 and Sierra Leone on 10. Namibia is clearly stronger in military, trade and institutions & safety. Sierra Leone is clearly stronger in natural resources and environment & energy.
As a nation, Sierra Leone is the older of the two (statehood since 1971, 55 years), compared with Namibia (since 1990). Over the last five years Sierra Leone improved faster (direction score 69 vs 16 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Namibia and Sierra Leone.
Namibia
19.3%
180th of 187
Sierra Leonebetter
3.2%
45th of 187
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Namibiabetter
2.80
63rd of 164
Sierra Leone
1.82
160th of 164
GDP growthEconomy
Namibia
1.7%
157th of 210
Sierra Leonebetter
4.6%
59th of 210
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Namibiabetter
56.7
86th of 205
Sierra Leone
36.5
179th of 205
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Namibia
2,132
104th of 183
Sierra Leonebetter
19,331
30th of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Namibia overtook Sierra Leone in GDP (PPP) in 1992 and has stayed ahead since.
Namibia has been ahead of Sierra Leone in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Namibia has been ahead of Sierra Leone in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Sierra Leone has been ahead of Namibia in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
NamibiaSierra Leone All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Namibia | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 824,29233rd/216 · 2024 | 72,300120th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 823,29033rd/216 · 2024 | 72,180117th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 3.1 m136th/217 · 2025 | 8.8 m100th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.05%46th/217 · 2025 | 2.04%47th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 3.7213th/216 · 2024 | 119.790th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 50.9%154th/217 · 2025 | 45.9%158th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 36.7%44th/217 · 2025 | 37.7%36th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.8%171st/217 · 2025 | 3.3%185th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $15.08 bn145th/210 · 2025 | $7.46 bn163rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $37.07 bn144th/199 · 2025 | $32.78 bn146th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $31.68 bn144th/199 · 2025 | $28.01 bn146th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,876141st/210 · 2025 | $846201st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,986134th/199 · 2025 | $3,717178th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,340137th/201 · 2025 | $830190th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.7%157th/210 · 2025 | 4.6%59th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.5%102nd/180 · 2025 | 7.5%148th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 19.3%180th/187 · 2025 | 3.2%45th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 4.7%2015 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 67.5%132nd/189 · 2025 | 51.4%86th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -5.9%163rd/192 · 2025 | -4.2%137th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 7.0%91st/197 · 2025 | 29.5%14th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 28.9%59th/200 · 2025 | 25.7%76th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 10.0%99th/192 · 2025 | 7.0%134th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.0%120th/200 · 2025 | 41.6%182nd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.74 bn120th/182 · 2025 | $1.56 bn155th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $9.64 bn120th/182 · 2025 | $2.11 bn158th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 44.7%64th/183 · 2025 | 20.9%145th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 63.9%49th/183 · 2025 | 28.2%141st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 108.6%50th/183 · 2025 | 49.1%146th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%114th/170 · 2024 | 0.1%2018 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 18.4%108th/171 · 2024 | 25.1%2018 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 28.0%53rd/171 · 2024 | 45.6%2018 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 32.3%17th/171 · 2024 | 19.7%2018 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.1%160th/168 · 2024 | 0.7%2018 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -13.1%173rd/191 · 2025 | -5.2%141st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 9.6%22nd/196 · 2025 | 2.4%90th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.0%80th/209 · 2021 | 9.0%50th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | — |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 3.17%31st/209 · 2021 | 0.21%63rd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.86%57th/209 · 2021 | 8.82%8th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.0%183rd/206 · 2024 | 21.9%48th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,132104th/183 · 2022 | 19,33130th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 187,100153rd/194 · 2020 | 71,000174th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $155.0 m134th/175 · 2020 | $39.0 m159th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.0%91st/168 · 2020 | 5.5%82nd/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 122,00097th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 67.5172nd/217 · 2024 | 62.0206th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 39.5159th/196 · 2024 | 90.5190th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.55120th/174 · 2022 | 0.13160th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.72009 | 0.42006 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 74%160th/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 76.8%78th/153 · 2023 | 23.1%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 82.0%124th/173 · 2024 | 86.9%112th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 43.7%2015 | 18.1%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.4%169th/217 · 2025 | 5.6%189th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 9.5%35th/193 · 2023 | 4.7%131st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 87.6%59th/98 · 2023 | 43.6%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 26.1%110th/150 · 2022 | 2.0%2002 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.665136th/193 · 2023 | 0.467185th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 59.12015 | 35.72018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 22.9%2015 | 41.5%2018 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 59.3%188th/215 · 2024 | 39.2%205th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 10.9%147th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 16.8%130th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 64.9%134th/186 · 2024 | 25.1%173rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 85164th/210 · 2024 | 108127th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.8153rd/208 · 2024 | 0.0206th/208 · 2021 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.8063rd/164 · 2022 | 1.82160th/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 60,304141st/161 · 2023 | 50,1932012 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.2069th/203 · 2024 | 0.1722nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 30.0%80th/212 · 2021 | 71.6%25th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 14.277th/200 · 2023 | 22.5132nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 9.8%168th/214 · 2024 | 34.0%101st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 677111th/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 54.4102nd/205 · 2025 | 33.3179th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 51.083rd/207 · 2025 | 32.2157th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 64.879th/207 · 2025 | 44.7154th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 78.664th/207 · 2025 | 58.8144th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 56.786th/205 · 2025 | 36.5179th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 64.681st/205 · 2025 | 49.2128th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 11.2117th/145 · 2021 | 2.272nd/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $410.5 m110th/156 · 2025 | $32.2 m148th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.8%35th/156 · 2025 | 0.4%149th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 7.0%49th/154 · 2025 | 2.5%130th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.67%36th/168 · 2020 | 0.35%138th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 0158th/163 · 2025 | 2.0 m2016 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.65%55th/110 · 2022 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2024 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 231124th/197 · 2023 | 86144th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has the larger population: 8.8 m (2025) compared with 3.1 m for Namibia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Namibia is larger: 824,292 km² (2024) compared with 72,300 km² for Sierra Leone (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Namibia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $37.07 bn intl. (2025) compared with $32.78 bn intl. for Sierra Leone (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Namibia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $11,986 intl. (2025) compared with $3,717 intl. for Sierra Leone (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Namibia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 67.5 years (2024) compared with 62.0 years for Sierra Leone (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Namibia spends more on the military: $410.5 m (2025) compared with $32.2 m for Sierra Leone (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Namibia or Sierra Leone?
Namibia: 31.8 points (159th in the world); Sierra Leone: 27.3 points (166th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Equatorial Guinea
Malawi
Mauritania
Mauritius
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
TogoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Namibia vs Sierra Leone — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/namibia-vs-sierra-leone. Data as of 26 October 2026.