weighted score 3.5 · ten dimensions
Sourcing Attractiveness Index · ten dimensions
Sierra Leone
Labour cost, supply base depth, logistics infrastructure, trade access, and innovation scores for Sierra Leone as a sourcing destination.
Labour cost competitiveness
9
Extremely low wages — among the lowest in West Africa. However, productivity is very low and skilled labour availability severely limited. Cost advantage is theoretical for non-extractive sectors.
Supply base depth
3
Mining only. Diamonds, iron ore, rutile. No manufacturing base. Koidu diamond mine shut May 2025. Iron ore operations expanding but total industrial base is minimal.
Logistics & infrastructure
3
Poor road network, congested port, limited power supply (~26% electricity access). Rainy season disrupts logistics. Mining requires dedicated corridors.
Workforce skills
3
Low literacy rates. Minimal technical training infrastructure. Skilled labour scarce. Mining operations import technical expertise.
Scalability
5
Mineral reserves are significant (iron ore, rutile, diamonds). Scalability potential exists in extractives but infrastructure constraints limit expansion speed.
Ease of doing business
3
Lower quartile globally. Corruption, regulatory complexity, and institutional weakness. EITI compliance is a positive signal but overall environment challenging.
Trade access & tariffs
3
EU EBA duty-free access. ECOWAS membership. But limited export diversification means tariff advantages only apply to minerals.
Sustainability baseline
3
Minimal environmental regulation enforcement. ASM causes significant environmental degradation. Mineral Wealth Fund (2026) is a positive governance signal.
Innovation & IP
1
No meaningful innovation ecosystem. No R&D infrastructure. Patent activity negligible. Technology is imported for mining operations.
Quality standards
2
Minimal quality standards infrastructure. Sierra Leone Standards Bureau has limited capacity. Mining operations follow international standards but broader economy lacks quality frameworks.
Labour & Cost Competitiveness
Labour & Cost Competitiveness
- Wage levels
- Sierra Leone has extremely low labour costs. Minimum wage is among the lowest in West Africa. However, productivity is also very low and skilled labour availability is severely limited.
- Labour market
- Population ~8.8 million. Large informal sector. Mining sector is the primary formal employer but artisanal mining dominates diamond production. Manufacturing labour force is minimal.
- Cost-sensitive categories
- Labour cost advantage is theoretical — it only applies to extractive industries where Sierra Leone has actual production capacity. No meaningful manufacturing base exists to leverage low wages.
Supply Base & Infrastructure
Supply Base & Infrastructure
- Mining operations
- Diamonds (Koidu mine — shut May 2025 due to labour dispute), iron ore (Marampa restart, Tonkolili expansion), and rutile (Sierra Rutile). These are the only significant industrial operations in the country.
- Port infrastructure
- Freetown port is congested and capacity-limited. Pepel port serves iron ore exports. No deep-water container terminal. Infrastructure investment is ongoing but from a very low base.
- Road network
- Road infrastructure is poor, particularly outside Freetown. Rainy season (June-October) makes many roads impassable. Mining operations require dedicated logistics corridors.
- Power supply
- Electricity access is among the lowest in the world (~26% of population). Mining operations rely on self-generation. Power unreliability is a fundamental constraint on any industrial activity.
Trade Access & Business Environment
Trade Access & Business Environment
- EU EBA
- Everything But Arms provides duty-free, quota-free access to the EU. This is a significant tariff advantage for mineral exports and any future manufactured goods.
- ECOWAS membership
- Member of ECOWAS, providing regional trade access across West Africa. However, intra-ECOWAS trade volumes for Sierra Leone are limited.
- Business environment
- World Bank Doing Business rankings have historically placed Sierra Leone in the lower quartile. Regulatory complexity, corruption, and institutional weakness create significant barriers.
- GDP growth
- GDP growth approximately 4.5% (2025 estimate). Iron ore export acceleration in 2026 is a positive driver. The economy remains heavily dependent on extractive sector performance.