Sierra Leone Makes Record Leap in Global Mining Rankings

Sierra Leone has made a remarkable leap in the global mining industry, rising from 52nd to 8th place in the latest Mining Contribution Index (MCI) rankings. The country’s MCI score climbed to 88.8, placing it among the world’s top 10 mining-dependent economies.

The sharp rise reflects Sierra Leone’s growing emphasis on mineral exports, production value, and sector resilience. Between 2022 and 2025, minerals, metals, and coal accounted for 62.3% of total exports, while the mining sector contributed 36.2% to GDP. Export contributions also grew by 5.19 percentage points over five years.

Under the leadership of Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Julius Daniel Mattai, the government has been steering the sector toward sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical resource management. The ministry’s reforms aim to ensure that mining benefits citizens, safeguards the environment, and supports national infrastructure and job creation.

Key minerals such as ilmenite, iron ore, rutile, zircon, and diamonds have recorded both production and price gains. Policy reforms promoting export value addition, local beneficiation, and global competitiveness have driven much of this growth. Updates to the MCI’s methodology now emphasizing export performance over mineral rents further highlighted Sierra Leone’s progress.

The 7th edition of the MCI noted that low- and middle-income mining countries are advancing rapidly, with 12 new nations entering the top 25. Sierra Leone’s 44-place climb stands out as one of the most significant improvements recorded.

Recovery from pandemic-era disruptions, combined with rising global demand for transition minerals, continues to strengthen the sector. The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources remains focused on sustainability, good governance, and community impact, aligning its efforts with international ESG standards.

With this milestone, Sierra Leone’s mining industry is emerging not just as a source of minerals, but as a catalyst for national growth and economic transformation.