Lending interest rate in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Lending interest rate was 21.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
21.4%
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
14th
of 148 countries
All-time high
62.8%
in 1992
All-time low
8.0%
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025

Lending interest rate in Sierra Leone, 1965–2025

0204060196519952025

Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in %.

Analysis

Sierra Leone recorded 21.4% for lending interest rate in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lending interest rate in Sierra Leone peaked at 62.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 1965.

That places Sierra Leone 14th out of 148 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 8.0% 8.0% 8.0% 5
1970s 9.1% 8.0% 11.0% 10
1980s 19.7% 11.0% 29.7% 10
1990s 38.5% 23.8% 62.8% 10
2000s 23.5% 20.0% 26.2% 10
2010s 18.8% 15.7% 21.2% 10
2020s 19.6% 17.9% 21.4% 6

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 11 Laos 22.6% compare
  2. 12 Yemen 22.1% compare
  3. 13 Gambia 22.0% compare
  4. 15 Venezuela 21.1% compare
  5. 16 Uganda 19.8% compare
  6. 17 Kyrgyzstan 19.8% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More financial sector data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is lending interest rate in Sierra Leone?
Lending interest rate in Sierra Leone was 21.4% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest lending interest rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 62.8% in 1992.
What is the lowest lending interest rate recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 1965.
How does Sierra Leone rank for lending interest rate?
Sierra Leone ranks 14th out of 148 countries with data for 2025.
Is lending interest rate rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Lending interest rate (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Lending interest rate (%)
Unit
%
Source
International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
148 places, 4,788 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Lending rate is the bank rate that usually meets the short- and medium-term financing needs of the private sector. This rate is normally differentiated according to creditworthiness of borrowers and objectives of financing. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.