Remittances from Sierra Leoneans abroad reached $141.95mn in the second quarter of 2026, 16.0% more than a year earlier, according to chart data in the Bank of Sierra Leone's September monetary policy report. Inflows fell 10.8% from $159.17mn in the first quarter, a decline the central bank linked to cost-of-living pressures and weaker job markets for migrants in the United States and Europe.
Analysis: Quarterly transfers can fluctuate sharply, making the annual comparison more informative. In the first half, remittances rose 23.5% to $301.12mn, equivalent to about 36% of merchandise export receipts, by our calculation. That makes overseas earnings an important source of foreign currency and household purchasing power. However, consumer prices were 15.66% higher in August than a year earlier, while the leone barely moved against the dollar, reducing what a fixed dollar transfer can buy locally. The central bank has not scheduled publication of its next report on remittance trends.
Source: Bank of Sierra Leone, Bank of Sierra Leone, Monetary Policy Report, September 2026, Q2 2026 and Q2 2025 and Q1 2025 and Q1 2026; Bank of Sierra Leone, BSL Monetary Policy Report June 2026, 2026Q1; Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), Stats SL, Consumer Price Index Press Release August 2026, August 2026; Bank of Sierra Leone, Bank of Sierra Leone, Indicative Exchange Rates, 30 October 2026, 30 October 2026; Bank of Sierra Leone, BSL October 2025 monthly exchange rates (mid-rates), October 2025