Sierra Leone has suffered a major setback in its latest Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard, passing only 9 out of 20 indicators—well below the typical threshold required for compact eligibility.
While the country maintained its strong performance in the Control of Corruption category, it fell short in key areas such as Access to Credit and Business Start-Up, underscoring persistent structural and economic weaknesses.
The MCC evaluation, which measures countries across four key pillars—Economic Freedom, Investing in People, Ruling Justly, and Personal Freedom—reveals that Sierra Leone continues to rank near the bottom globally, with particularly poor outcomes in economic and civil liberties indicators.
Economic Freedom: The Weakest Link
The most troubling results came under the Economic Freedom pillar. Inflation surged to 28.4%, placing Sierra Leone in the 0th percentile globally—a glaring indicator of macroeconomic fragility.
Other economic indicators also painted a bleak picture:
• Fiscal Policy: –4.3 (11th percentile)
• Trade Policy: 58.0 (11th percentile)
• Regulatory Quality: –0.64
• Access to Credit: 30th percentile
• Land Rights: 50th percentile
These figures reflect deep-seated fiscal imbalances, weak regulatory enforcement, and a challenging business environment that continues to deter private investment and stifle entrepreneurship.
Investing in People: Progress Amid Pressure
Despite economic headwinds, Sierra Leone showed modest improvements in the Investing in People category. Health expenditure rose to 6.3% of GDP (64th percentile), while girls’ primary school completion reached 94.1% and immunization coverage stood at 91%, both ranking in the 71st percentile.
These gains highlight sustained government efforts to expand access to health and education, even as fiscal constraints and inflationary pressures strain the national budget.
Ruling Justly: Governance Gains, But Institutions Still Fragile
Under the Ruling Justly pillar, Sierra Leone passed the Control of Corruption and Accountability indicators—signaling gradual progress in governance and transparency reforms.
However, challenges remain significant. Both 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 results indicate that despite anti-corruption gains, institutional strength and democratic consolidation remain weak.
Personal Freedom: A Complete Failure
The worst performance came in the Personal Freedom category, where Sierra Leone failed all indicators except Freedom of Religion, which scored a moderate 60 (60th percentile).
Scores for Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech, and Internet Access (each 33rd percentile) point to a shrinking civic space and growing restrictions on digital and political expression.
These trends raise serious concerns about the government’s respect for civil rights and the ability of citizens to engage freely in democratic processes.
Overall Assessment: A Wake-Up Call for Reform
With a population of 8.6 million and a Gross National Income per capita of $840, Sierra Leone remains classified as a low-income country (≤ $2,155).
The FY2026 MCC Scorecard delivers a sobering reality check: despite progress in health, education, and anti-corruption, Sierra Leone’s poor performance in economic management and civil liberties poses serious risks to development and international credibility.
As the nation moves into a new development cycle, these results should serve as both a warning and a call to action. Strengthening governance, reforming economic policy, and protecting human rights are essential if Sierra Leone hopes to regain MCC compact eligibility and attract sustainable international investment.
