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Sierra Leone vs Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Side-by-side comparison of Sierra Leone and Somalia, Fed. Rep. 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
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Sierra Leone scores 27.3 in the NationsTree Index (166th in the world) and Somalia, Fed. Rep. scores 19.3 (190th), a gap of 8.0 points. Their trees are 3.0 m and 2.9 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. has 2.2 times the population of Sierra Leone. Somalia, Fed. Rep. is 8.8 times larger than Sierra Leone by land area. Sierra Leone and Somalia, Fed. Rep. have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Sierra Leone 8.8 million and Somalia, Fed. Rep. 19.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,717 in Sierra Leone and $1,643 in Somalia, Fed. Rep. (2025, international dollars). People in Sierra Leone live on average 3.0 years longer (62.0 vs 59.0 years).
Of 26 indicators reported by both countries, Sierra Leone ranks higher in the world on 18 and Somalia, Fed. Rep. on 8. Sierra Leone is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, natural resources and society & health. Somalia, Fed. Rep. is clearly stronger in trade, military and land & people.
As a nation, Somalia, Fed. Rep. is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Sierra Leone (since 1971). Over the last five years Somalia, Fed. Rep. improved faster (direction score 70 vs 69 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Sierra Leone and Somalia, Fed. Rep..
Sierra Leonebetter
3.2%
45th of 187
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
18.9%
179th of 187
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Sierra Leonebetter
19,331
30th of 183
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
337
159th of 183
Government budget balanceEconomy
Sierra Leone
-4.2%
137th of 192
Somalia, Fed. Rep.better
-0.3%
42nd of 192
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Sierra Leonebetter
91%
93rd of 193
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
70%
169th of 193
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Sierra Leonebetter
86.9%
112th of 173
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
3.3%
173rd of 173
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Sierra Leone overtook Somalia, Fed. Rep. in GDP (PPP) in 2025, the latest year with data.
Sierra Leone overtook Somalia, Fed. Rep. in life expectancy in 2015 and has stayed ahead since.
Sierra Leone overtook Somalia, Fed. Rep. in the NationsTree Index in 2004 and has stayed ahead since.
Sierra Leone has been ahead of Somalia, Fed. Rep. in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. has been ahead of Sierra Leone 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
Sierra LeoneSomalia, Fed. Rep. 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 | Sierra Leone | Somalia, Fed. Rep. |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 72,300120th/216 · 2024 | 637,65742nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 72,180117th/216 · 2024 | 627,34042nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 8.8 m100th/217 · 2025 | 19.7 m66th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.04%47th/217 · 2025 | 3.34%8th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 119.790th/216 · 2024 | 30.3171st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 45.9%158th/217 · 2025 | 55.1%144th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 37.7%36th/217 · 2025 | 46.6%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.3%185th/217 · 2025 | 2.6%206th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $7.46 bn163rd/210 · 2025 | $13.00 bn148th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $32.78 bn146th/199 · 2025 | $32.29 bn148th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $28.01 bn146th/199 · 2025 | $27.59 bn147th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $846201st/210 · 2025 | $661205th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,717178th/199 · 2025 | $1,643197th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $830190th/201 · 2025 | $640195th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.6%59th/210 · 2025 | 3.0%116th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 7.5%148th/180 · 2025 | — |
| Unemployment % | 3.2%45th/187 · 2025 | 18.9%179th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 12.7%2nd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 51.4%86th/189 · 2025 | — |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.2%137th/192 · 2025 | -0.3%42nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 29.5%14th/197 · 2025 | 55.8%1990 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.7%76th/200 · 2025 | — |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.0%134th/192 · 2024 | 3.9%1990 |
| Services % of GDP | 41.6%182nd/200 · 2025 | — |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.56 bn155th/182 · 2025 | $3.80 bn138th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $2.11 bn158th/182 · 2025 | $12.84 bn111th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 20.9%145th/183 · 2025 | 29.2%116th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 28.2%141st/183 · 2025 | 98.8%10th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 49.1%146th/183 · 2025 | 128.1%36th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%2018 | — |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 25.1%2018 | — |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 45.6%2018 | — |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 19.7%2018 | — |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.7%2018 | — |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.2%141st/191 · 2025 | -24.3%186th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.4%90th/196 · 2025 | 6.4%32nd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 9.0%50th/209 · 2021 | 11.2%43rd/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 | 0.21%63rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 8.82%8th/209 · 2021 | 11.24%4th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 21.9%48th/206 · 2024 | 1.8%176th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 19,33130th/183 · 2022 | 337159th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 71,000174th/194 · 2019 | — |
| Tourism receipts USD | $39.0 m159th/175 · 2018 | — |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.5%82nd/168 · 2018 | — |
| Outbound trips departures | 122,00097th/107 · 2019 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 62.0206th/217 · 2024 | 59.0212th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 90.5190th/196 · 2024 | 101.1194th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.13160th/174 · 2022 | 0.052014 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.42006 | 0.9124th/145 · 2019 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 70%169th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 23.1%2019 | 11.1%150th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 86.9%112th/173 · 2023 | 3.3%173rd/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 18.1%2018 | 8.2%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.6%189th/217 · 2025 | 5.1%196th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.7%131st/193 · 2023 | 3.7%161st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 43.6%2019 | 54.1%90th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 2.0%2002 | — |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.467185th/193 · 2023 | 0.404192nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.72018 | — |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 41.5%2018 | — |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 39.2%205th/215 · 2024 | 54.4%194th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 10.9%147th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 16.8%130th/144 · 2024 | 16.4%132nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 25.1%173rd/186 · 2024 | 27.9%172nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 108127th/210 · 2022 | 54197th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0206th/208 · 2021 | 0.7175th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.82160th/164 · 2018 | 1.90154th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 50,1932012 | 34,066149th/161 · 2019 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1722nd/203 · 2024 | 0.0510th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.6%25th/212 · 2022 | 95.4%2nd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 22.5132nd/200 · 2023 | 18.5105th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 34.0%101st/214 · 2024 | 7.8%173rd/214 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 33.3179th/205 · 2025 | 13.3201st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 32.2157th/207 · 2025 | 13.9206th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 44.7154th/207 · 2025 | 22.9206th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 58.8144th/207 · 2025 | 27.6204th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 36.5179th/205 · 2025 | 26.1198th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 49.2128th/205 · 2025 | 28.6184th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.272nd/145 · 2020 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $32.2 m148th/156 · 2025 | $199.5 m128th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.4%149th/156 · 2025 | 1.5%87th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.5%130th/154 · 2025 | 20.8%6th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 | 14,000120th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.35%138th/168 · 2020 | 0.47%119th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m2016 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Scientific articles articles | 86144th/197 · 2023 | 152134th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Somalia, Fed. Rep. has the larger population: 19.7 m (2025) compared with 8.8 m for Sierra Leone (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Somalia, Fed. Rep. is larger: 637,657 km² (2024) compared with 72,300 km² for Sierra Leone (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Sierra Leone has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $32.78 bn intl. (2025) compared with $32.29 bn intl. for Somalia, Fed. Rep. (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Sierra Leone has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,717 intl. (2025) compared with $1,643 intl. for Somalia, Fed. Rep. (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Sierra Leone has the higher life expectancy at birth: 62.0 years (2024) compared with 59.0 years for Somalia, Fed. Rep. (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Somalia, Fed. Rep. spends more on the military: $199.5 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, Sierra Leone or Somalia, Fed. Rep.?
Sierra Leone: 27.3 points (166th in the world); Somalia, Fed. Rep.: 19.3 points (190th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Equatorial Guinea
Namibia
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). Sierra Leone vs Somalia, Fed. Rep. — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/sierra-leone-vs-somalia-fed-rep. Data as of 26 October 2026.