Relations with Germany are amicable. The Federal Republic of Germany officially recognised Sierra Leone immediately after it gained independence in 1961 and opened an embassy in Freetown. Germany is highly regarded not only by government representatives but also among the population. The German Embassy was closed from 1999 till 2003 owing to the civil war, but Germany has had an ambassador in Freetown again since 2007.

Within the scope of development cooperation, Germany supports Sierra Leone in the areas of youth employment, vocational training and agriculture, strengthening the health sector (including HIV/AIDS prevention) and promoting women’s rights. Within the framework of the Civil Peace Service, Germany also supports measures by church and private-sector seconding organisations to strengthen the participation and rights of local communities and to foster religious tolerance.

In 2022, Germany exported goods valued at 19.6 million euro to Sierra Leone and imported goods worth 51.6 million euro, with rutile (titanium dioxide), extracted by open‑cast mining in Sierra Leone, accounting for more than 80 percent of German imports from the country.