Freetown, 12th November 2025 – Sierra Leone has failed 13 out of 22 indicators in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) FY2026 governance scorecard, passing only nine. The results reveal a troubling imbalance between modest gains in public service delivery and persistent weaknesses in economic management and civil liberties.
The scorecard evaluates national performance across four pillars, Economic Freedom, Investing in People, Ruling Justly, and Personal Freedom and places Sierra Leone in the lower percentile rankings for most indicators, particularly in the economic domain.
Economic Freedom: A Deep Red Flag
Sierra Leone’s economic indicators were among the worst-performing. Inflation stood at 28.4%, placing the country in the 0th percentile globally. Trade policy (58.0), regulatory quality (-0.64), and fiscal policy (-4.3) all ranked in the 11th percentile, reflecting weak macroeconomic stability and limited competitiveness. Access to credit (30) and land rights (50) also scored poorly, underscoring structural barriers to private sector growth and investment.
Investing in People: Health and Education Offer Glimmers of Hope
Despite fiscal constraints, Sierra Leone showed promise in human development. Health expenditures reached 6.3% of GDP (64th percentile), while girls’ primary school completion rate hit 94.1% and immunization coverage reached 91%—both in the 71st percentile. These figures suggest targeted investments in health and education are beginning to yield results.
Ruling Justly: Moderate Progress, Institutional Weaknesses
The country performed moderately well in governance, passing key benchmarks on Control of Corruption and Accountability. However, other indicators such as Government Effectiveness and Rule of Law scored -0.6 (21st percentile), while Political Rights (32) and Civil Liberties (33) hovered around the 30th percentile. These scores point to fragile institutions and limited democratic consolidation.
Personal Freedom: A Category Not Passed
Sierra Leone failed the Personal Freedom category entirely. While Freedom of Religion scored 60 (60th percentile), Freedom of Assembly, Speech, and Internet Access all scored 33, placing the country in the 33rd percentile. These figures raise serious concerns about civic space, media freedom, and digital rights.
Overall Assessment: A Scorecard of Concern
With a population of 8.6 million and a Gross National Income per capita of $840, Sierra Leone remains in the low-income category (≤ $2,155). The FY2026 MCC scorecard paints a sobering picture: while the country passed 9 indicators, including notable wins in health, education, and anti-corruption, it failed 13, with economic freedom emerging as a major vulnerability.
As Sierra Leone prepares for its next development cycle, the scorecard offers both a warning and a roadmap, highlighting areas of resilience while exposing the structural and institutional gaps that continue to hinder inclusive growth, democratic accountability, and investor confidence.
