Freetown, 2 October 2025 – Sierra Leone has been ranked among the ten African countries with the lowest real value of minimum wage, according to new data released by Moorepay.
The study, which compared annual minimum earnings across the continent, placed Sierra Leone in fifth position from the bottom, with a real minimum wage estimated at $2,002 per year – equivalent to about $167 per month, or roughly 2 million Leones.
High Costs, Low Wages
While workers earn this amount on paper, the reality is far more difficult. A 50kg bag of rice, Sierra Leone’s staple food, costs between 600,000 and 800,000 Leones, swallowing up nearly 40% of a monthly salary. The rest must cover housing, transportation, utilities, clothing, and healthcare – much of which is paid out-of-pocket.
Analysts warn that this “impossible equation” leaves many families with no safety net. A single emergency, such as an illness or funeral, can push households into long-term debt.
A Continental Challenge
Sierra Leone’s struggles mirror those of several other African nations on Moorepay’s list. The Gambia, ranked lowest, records a real minimum wage of just $778 per year. Uganda ($1,285) and Ghana ($1,572) also face severe challenges, with wage growth lagging far behind inflation and urban living costs.
Meanwhile, the Central African Republic ($1,759), Mali ($2,419), and Niger ($2,443) battle weak economies and, in some cases, conflict-related instability, further undermining the value of wages.
The Bigger Picture
Economists say Sierra Leone’s ranking highlights the deep mismatch between earnings and the cost of living across much of Africa. For many workers, the minimum wage is not a guaranteed pathway to survival but rather a daily struggle to stretch limited resources.
