The economy of Sierra Leone is underdeveloped. Sierra Leone's economy has been hindered by civil war in the 1990s. 

Sierra Leone is heavily dependent upon subsistence agriculture and has very little industry. Lack of industry has forced Sierra Leone to import most of its manufactured goods, which has caused a trade deficit. Sierra Leone's 1996 revenue is estimated at $96 million, while that nation had $150 million in expenditures. As of 1998, Sierra Leone had $1.15 billion in outstanding loans internationally compared to a GDP of $2.7 billion.

While nationally, Sierra Leone is not a wealthy nation, individuals in Sierra Leone live in extreme poverty. The per capita income in Sierra Leone for 2000 was approximately $140, while it was approximately $160 in 1972.

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