Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
View Text Low Bandwidth Version Download Publication
Africa :: Sierra Leone
page last updated on October 16, 2012
Flag of Sierra Leone
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Sierra Leone
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Sierra Leone
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
No Photos available for Sierra Leone
 
no photos available of Sierra Leone
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about a third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007 presidential election but still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.
Back to Top
Geography ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 71,740 sq km
country comparison to the world: 119
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
402 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 7.95%
permanent crops: 1.05%
other: 91% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
300 sq km (2003)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
160 cu km (1987)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%)
per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Back to Top
People ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5,485,998 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,141,091/ female 1,155,542)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,432,837/ female 1,554,853)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 88,127/ female 113,548) (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 19.1 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.6 years (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.277% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
38.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 188
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
urban population: 38% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
FREETOWN (capital) 875,000 (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 3
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 76.64 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 85.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: 56.55 years
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 54.08 years
female: 59.11 years (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4.9 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
13.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.016 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
49,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
21.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 93
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 35.1%
male: 46.9%
female: 24.4% (2004 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 12 years
male: 13 years
female: 11 years (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 5.2%
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 7.3%
female: 3.5% (2004)
Back to Top
Government ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
local short form: Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
constitutional democracy
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 29 N, 13 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
27 April 1961 (from the UK)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 October 1991; amended several times
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 August 2007 and 8 September 2007 (next to be held on 17 November 2012)
election results: second round results; percent of vote - Ernest Bai KOROMA 54.6%, Solomon BEREWA 45.4%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 August 2007 (next to be held on 17 November 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 59, SLPP 43, PMDC 10
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON]; People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Julius Maada BIO]; numerous others
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
other: student unions; trade unions
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael S. OWEN
embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or (76) 515 000
FAX: [232] (22) 515 355
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lion
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"
lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA
note: adopted 1961
Back to Top
Economy ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its physical and social infrastructure has yet to recover from the civil war, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. Nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings, accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. The IMF completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation and in 2010 approved a new program worth $45 million over three years. Political stability has led to a revival of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of bauxite and rutile mining, which are set to benefit from planned tax incentives. A number of offshore oil discoveries were announced in 2009 and 2010. The development on these reserves, which could be significant, is still several years away.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$5.158 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$4.897 billion (2010 est.)
$4.667 billion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$2.196 billion (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5.3% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
5% (2010 est.)
3.2% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$900 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
$800 (2010 est.)
$800 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 51.5%
industry: 22%
services: 26.5% (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.207 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
70.2% (2004)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.6% (2003)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
62.9 (1989)
country comparison to the world: 5
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $503.5 million
expenditures: $589.7 million (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
22.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-3.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
82.9% of GDP
country comparison to the world: 22
87.5% of GDP
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
16.6% (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
21% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
21.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$276.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
$249.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$621.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$532.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$400.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$333.2 million (31 December 2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-$943 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
-$482.9 million (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$472.3 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$362.9 million (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Belgium 28.9%, Romania 12.6%, Netherlands 9.2%, China 7.3%, US 6.9%, Turkey 6%, UK 5.8% (2011)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.314 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$735.9 million (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
China 16.2%, South Africa 10.9%, US 7.4%, UK 7.2%, India 5.1%, Malaysia 4.3% (2011)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$543.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$490.9 million
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$366.1 million
country comparison to the world: 96
$264.1 million
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
leones (SLL) per US dollar -
4,400 (2011 est.)
3,978.1
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
calendar year
Back to Top
Energy ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
120 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
111.6 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
52,000 kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
92.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4,381 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8,768 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
523 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
6,117 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.335 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Back to Top
Communications ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
14,000 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 198
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.137 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 139
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 government-owned TV station; 1 private TV station began operating in 2005; a pay-TV service began operations in late 2007; 1 government-owned national radio station; about two dozen private radio stations primarily clustered in major cities; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.sl
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
280 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 192
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
14,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Back to Top
Transportation ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 164
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 11,300 km
country comparison to the world: 132
paved: 904 km
unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
800 km (600 km navigable year round) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 72
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 215
country comparison to the world: 34
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 120, carrier 2, chemical tanker 19, container 6, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 98 (Bangladesh 1, China 19, Cyprus 2, Egypt 3, Estonia 2, Hong Kong 7, Japan 4, Lebanon 2, North Korea 2, Romania 2, Russia 7, Singapore 9, Syria 13, Taiwan 7, Turkey 9, UAE 1, UK 1, Ukraine 5, Yemen 2) (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands
Back to Top
Military ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
17 years 6 months of age for male and female voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription; candidates must be HIV negative (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 1,183,093 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 731,898
females age 16-49: 838,032 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 54,212
female: 57,154 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 64
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
as domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups, rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone gradually abates, the number of refugees in border areas has begun to slowly dwindle; Sierra Leone considers excessive Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
refugees (country of origin): 8,341 (Liberia) (2010)
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.