Inflation Sierra Leone 2019
Average inflation: 14.8%
Inflation in 2019
Inflation is very high at 14.8%, far above the ECB target.
Peak and Trough
The highest inflation was in April at 16.6%. The lowest inflation was in November at 13.1%.
- Highest month
- April: 16.6%
- Lowest month
- November: 13.1%
- Difference
- 3.5 percentage points
- Months with data
- 12 of 12
Category Insights
The highest price increase was in Energy with an average of 13.0%. The lowest price increase was in Food with an average of 8.8%.
- Highest increase
- Energy: 13.0%
- Lowest increase
- Food: 8.8%
Historical Context
Inflation is 1.5 percentage points higher than the 5-year average of 13.3%.
- 5-year average
- 13.3%
- 10-year average
- 9.7%
- All-time high (2017)
- 18.3%
- All-time low (2014)
- 4.6%
Trend
Over the period 2017-2019, inflation shows a downward trend. Compared to 2018, inflation has fallen by 1.2 percentage points.
- Change vs. previous year
- -1.2 percentage points
- Largest monthly swing
- November: -3.5 percentage points
ECB Target
Inflation is 12.8 percentage points above the ECB target of 2.0%. This means purchasing power is declining faster than intended.
Purchasing Power
At this high inflation rate, purchasing power rapidly decreases. This has a major impact on households, especially without adequate salary increases.
What you could buy for SLE 100 this year will cost approximately SLE 114.80 next year at this inflation rate.
Multi-year trend
Monthly figures 2019
Inflation by category
Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.
Month overview
| Month | Inflation | Difference vs. 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 14.4% | -0.3 |
| February | 14.1% | -0.3 |
| March | 14.8% | -0.1 |
| April | 16.6% | +1.5 |
| May | 15.0% | -1.0 |
| June | 14.6% | -2.0 |
| July | 14.9% | -2.8 |
| August | 15.4% | -2.8 |
| September | 15.2% | -2.6 |
| October | 15.9% | -0.2 |
| November | 13.1% | -3.5 |
| December | 13.9% | -0.3 |
| Average | 14.8% |
Data source
Data from WorldBank. Last updated: 06/01/2026.