Global GridSierra Leone's energy mix and electricity
🇸🇱 In 2024, Sierra Leone generated 0.21 TWh of electricity. The largest source was hydro at 86%, followed by solar (9.5%) and oil and other fossil fuels (4.8%). In total, 95% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 4.8% from fossil fuels.
On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 48 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), far below the world average of 458 grams in 2025.
Electricity demand was 0.21 TWh. Its electricity imports and exports were roughly in balance.
Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 133%, from 0.09 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 11% to 96%. The biggest rise was in hydro, from 11% to 86% of generation. The biggest fall was in oil and other fossil fuels, from 89% to 5%. Carbon intensity fell from 556 to 48 grams per kWh.
Live, hour-by-hour figures for Sierra Leone are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.
Energy mix in 2024
- Hydro 86%
- Solar 9.5%
- Oil and other fossil fuels 4.8%
| Source | Share | Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 86% | 0.18 TWh |
| Solar | 9.5% | 0.02 TWh |
| Oil and other fossil fuels | 4.8% | 0.01 TWh |
Energy security score
Strong. It is not ranked because its power system is very small. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted. It is based on 4 of the 5 measures.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Produces its own energy No reliable figure exists for Sierra Leone, so this measure is left out and the other four count for more. | n/a |
| Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, hydro, made 86%. | 29 |
| Little reliance on imported power Sierra Leone exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks. | 100 |
| Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 95% of generation. | 95 |
| Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 4.8% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share. | 95 |
The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.
Oil and gas pipelines
Global Energy Monitor lists 0 km of oil and gas pipelines operating in Sierra Leone, 0 km being built and 6,889 km proposed (lengths measured along the mapped routes; a pipeline crossing borders counts in full for each country).
See them on the interactive map · Pipelines around the world
How it has changed
| Year | Generated | Low-carbon | Fossil | CO₂ g/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.09 TWh | 11% | 89% | 556 |
| 2005 | 0.08 TWh | 25% | 75% | 500 |
| 2010 | 0.14 TWh | 86% | 14% | 71 |
| 2015 | 0.16 TWh | 75% | 25% | 188 |
| 2020 | 0.20 TWh | 95% | 5% | 50 |
| 2023 | 0.21 TWh | 96% | 5% | 48 |
| 2024 | 0.21 TWh | 96% | 5% | 48 |
Questions about Sierra Leone's energy
What is Sierra Leone's energy mix?
In 2024, Sierra Leone's electricity came from hydro 86%, solar 9.5% and oil and other fossil fuels 4.8%.
How much of Sierra Leone's electricity is renewable?
95% of its electricity came from renewables in 2024 (hydro 86% and solar 9.5%).
What is Sierra Leone's main source of electricity?
Hydro, which made 86% of its electricity in 2024.
How clean is Sierra Leone's electricity?
About 48 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2024, far below the world average of 458 grams.
Does Sierra Leone import electricity?
Its imports and exports were roughly in balance in 2024.
How secure is Sierra Leone's energy supply?
Global Grid's energy security score for Sierra Leone is 78 out of 100 (strong). It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.
Other countries in Africa
Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2024; pipelines and LNG terminals from Global Energy Monitor's Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker (June 2026 release) and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (November 2025 release) (CC BY 4.0). Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).