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Sierra Leone vs Togo
Side-by-side comparison of Sierra Leone and Togo 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
Sierra Leone scores 27.3 in the NationsTree Index (166th in the world) and Togo scores 23.8 (180th), a gap of 3.5 points. Their trees are 3.0 m and 3.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sierra Leone and Togo have a similar population. Sierra Leone has 27% more land area than Togo. Sierra Leone and Togo have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Sierra Leone 8.8 million and Togo 8.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $4,079 in Togo and $3,717 in Sierra Leone (2025, international dollars). People in Togo live on average 1.0 years longer (62.9 vs 62.0 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Sierra Leone ranks higher in the world on 10 and Togo on 20. Sierra Leone is clearly stronger in environment & energy. Togo is clearly stronger in military, tourism and trade.
As a nation, Togo is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Sierra Leone (since 1971). Over the last five years Sierra Leone improved faster (direction score 69 vs 28 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Sierra Leone and Togo.
Sierra Leone
7.5%
148th of 180
Togobetter
0.4%
24th of 180
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Sierra Leonebetter
19,331
30th of 183
Togo
1,425
115th of 183
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Sierra Leone
1.82
160th of 164
Togobetter
2.30
117th of 164
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Sierra Leone overtook Togo in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Togo overtook Sierra Leone in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Sierra Leone overtook Togo in population in 2016 and has stayed ahead since.
Togo has been ahead of Sierra Leone in life expectancy 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 LeoneTogo 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 | Togo |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 72,300120th/216 · 2024 | 56,785126th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 72,180117th/216 · 2024 | 54,390125th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 8.8 m100th/217 · 2025 | 8.6 m101st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.04%47th/217 · 2025 | 2.18%39th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 119.790th/216 · 2024 | 154.674th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 45.9%158th/217 · 2025 | 44.4%164th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 37.7%36th/217 · 2025 | 40.4%22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.3%185th/217 · 2025 | 3.5%178th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $7.46 bn163rd/210 · 2025 | $11.89 bn152nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $32.78 bn146th/199 · 2025 | $35.05 bn145th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $28.01 bn146th/199 · 2025 | $29.95 bn145th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $846201st/210 · 2025 | $1,384184th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,717178th/199 · 2025 | $4,079176th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $830190th/201 · 2025 | $1,350176th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.6%59th/210 · 2025 | 6.3%30th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 7.5%148th/180 · 2025 | 0.4%24th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.2%45th/187 · 2025 | 2.0%16th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 51.4%86th/189 · 2025 | 64.9%126th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.2%137th/192 · 2025 | -3.2%114th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 29.5%14th/197 · 2025 | 20.3%34th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.7%76th/200 · 2025 | 21.0%122nd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.0%134th/192 · 2024 | 11.4%82nd/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 41.6%182nd/200 · 2025 | 61.7%74th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.56 bn155th/182 · 2025 | $2.39 bn148th/182 · 2023 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $2.11 bn158th/182 · 2025 | $3.44 bn149th/182 · 2023 |
| Exports % of GDP | 20.9%145th/183 · 2025 | 24.6%127th/183 · 2023 |
| Imports % of GDP | 28.2%141st/183 · 2025 | 35.3%113th/183 · 2023 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 49.1%146th/183 · 2025 | 59.9%128th/183 · 2023 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%2018 | 1.8%105th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 25.1%2018 | 35.0%84th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 45.6%2018 | 34.4%44th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 19.7%2018 | 26.0%23rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.7%2018 | 0.7%150th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.2%141st/191 · 2025 | -2.8%112th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.4%90th/196 · 2025 | 1.9%109th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 9.0%50th/209 · 2021 | 7.9%54th/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 | 4.88%23rd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 8.82%8th/209 · 2021 | 2.98%22nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 21.9%48th/206 · 2024 | 48.7%8th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 19,33130th/183 · 2022 | 1,425115th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 71,000174th/194 · 2019 | 482,000126th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $39.0 m159th/175 · 2018 | $264.0 m110th/175 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.5%82nd/168 · 2018 | 15.9%40th/168 · 2019 |
| Outbound trips departures | 122,00097th/107 · 2019 | 269,00090th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 62.0206th/217 · 2024 | 62.9201st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 90.5190th/196 · 2024 | 56.1174th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.13160th/174 · 2022 | 0.08168th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.42006 | 0.3142nd/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 90%104th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 23.1%2019 | 21.6%139th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 86.9%112th/173 · 2023 | 63.4%144th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 18.1%2018 | 18.2%46th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.6%189th/217 · 2025 | 6.2%176th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.7%131st/193 · 2023 | 6.1%101st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 43.6%2019 | 72.6%75th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 2.0%2002 | 14.9%2020 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.467185th/193 · 2023 | 0.571161st/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.72018 | 37.974th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 41.5%2018 | 34.7%94th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 39.2%205th/215 · 2024 | 61.1%186th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 10.9%147th/150 · 2024 | 20.5%137th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 16.8%130th/144 · 2024 | 13.0%136th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 25.1%173rd/186 · 2024 | 39.5%159th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 108127th/210 · 2022 | 81166th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0206th/208 · 2021 | 1.4164th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.82160th/164 · 2018 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 50,1932012 | 2.2 m78th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1722nd/203 · 2024 | 0.3133rd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.6%25th/212 · 2022 | 75.1%23rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 22.5132nd/200 · 2023 | 34.3166th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 34.0%101st/214 · 2024 | 22.5%126th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 493120th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 33.3179th/205 · 2025 | 35.2168th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 32.2157th/207 · 2025 | 33.8148th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 44.7154th/207 · 2025 | 48.3139th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 58.8144th/207 · 2025 | 50.7172nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 36.5179th/205 · 2025 | 47.3134th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 49.2128th/205 · 2025 | 38.7153rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.272nd/145 · 2020 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $32.2 m148th/156 · 2025 | $204.9 m126th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.4%149th/156 · 2025 | 1.9%72nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.5%130th/154 · 2025 | 7.1%47th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 | 10,000131st/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.35%138th/168 · 2020 | 0.38%133rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m2016 | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.22%81st/110 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 86144th/197 · 2023 | 136135th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Sierra Leone or Togo?
Sierra Leone has the larger population: 8.8 m (2025) compared with 8.6 m for Togo (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Sierra Leone or Togo?
Sierra Leone is larger: 72,300 km² (2024) compared with 56,785 km² for Togo (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Sierra Leone or Togo?
Togo has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $35.05 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, Sierra Leone or Togo?
Togo has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $4,079 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 Sierra Leone or Togo?
Togo has the higher life expectancy at birth: 62.9 years (2024) compared with 62.0 years for Sierra Leone (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Sierra Leone or Togo?
Togo spends more on the military: $204.9 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 Togo?
Sierra Leone: 27.3 points (166th in the world); Togo: 23.8 points (180th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Equatorial Guinea
Namibia
Somalia, Fed. Rep.Sources
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 Togo — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/sierra-leone-vs-togo. Data as of 26 October 2026.