2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Airports

10 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2002)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

9

under 914 m

2 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 7

Area

land

71,620 sq km

total

71,740 sq km

water

120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Background

Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. Geography Sierra Leone

Birth rate

43.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$96 million

Capital

Freetown

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Coastline

402 km

Constitution

1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Sierra Leone

conventional short form

Sierra Leone

Currency

leone (SLL)

Currency code

SLL

Death rate

20.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.5 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS

embassy

Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[232] (22) 226481 through 226485

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA

Disputes - international

large UN peacekeeping presence ended civil war but rebel gang fighting, ethnic rivalries, illegal diamond trading, corruption, and refugees spill over into neighboring states beset with their own civil disorder, refugees, and violence This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

62.9 (1989)

Economic aid - recipient

$103 million (2001 est.)

Economy - overview

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a 11-year civil war. About two-thirds 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. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. 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 to supplement government revenues.

Electricity - consumption

232.6 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

250.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

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 depleting natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Ethnic groups

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Exchange rates

leones per US dollar - 2,099.03 (2002), 1,986.15 (2001), 2,092.12 (2000), 1,804.19 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president

chief of state

President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms

head of government

President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$35 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)

Exports - partners

Belgium 41.9%, Germany 28.1%, UK 3.6% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-1793

[232] (22) 225471

chancery

1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone

[1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Sierra Leone

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue Economy Sierra Leone

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.826 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

49%

industry

31%

services

21% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.6% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Geography - note

rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa People Sierra Leone

Government type

constitutional democracy

Heliports

2 (2002) Military Sierra Leone

Highways

paved

895 km

total

11,330 km

unpaved

10,435 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

170,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

43.6% (1989)

lowest 10%

0.5%

Imports

$190 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995)

Imports - partners

Germany 25%, UK 10.9%, Netherlands 7.5%, US 5.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9%, Italy 4.3% (2002)

Independence

27 April 1961 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining

Infant mortality rate

female

128.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

164.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

146.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.sl

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2001)

Internet users

20,000 (2001) Transportation Sierra Leone

Irrigated land

290 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

Labor force

1.369 million (1981 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

total

958 km

Land use

arable land

6.76%

other

92.46% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.78%

Languages

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%)

Legal system

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2

elections

last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

45.42 years (2003 est.)

male

40.33 years

total population

42.84 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

female

18.2% (1995 est.) Government Sierra Leone

male

45.4%

total population

31.4%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

200 NM

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

17.8 years (2002)

male

17.2 years

total

17.5 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 2

total

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT

Military branches

Army (RSLAF)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$10.26 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY02) Transnational Issues Sierra Leone

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,228,664 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

596,617 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Nationality

adjective

Sierra Leonean

noun

Sierra Leonean(s)

Natural hazards

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Natural resources

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Net migration rate

6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

All People's Congress or APC [Alhaji Sat KOROMA, interim chairman]; Citizens United for Peace and Progress or CUPP [Alfred Musa CONTEH, interim chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Jeridine WILLIAM-SARHO, interim leader]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Adu Aiah KOROMA]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [George E. L. PALMER]; Democratic Party or DP [Henry BALO, acting chairman]; National Alliance Democratic Party or NADP [Mohamed Yahya SILLAH, chairman]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National People's Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; National Republican Party or NRP [Stephen Sahr MAMBU]; National Unity Movement or NUM [Sam LEIGH, interim chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [John BENJAMINE, interim leader]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Alliance or PDA [Cpl. (Ret.) Abdul Rahman KAMARA, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Osman KAMARA]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward John KARGBO]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or RUFP [Foday Saybana SANKOH, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Andrew Victor LUNGAY]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or UNPP [John KAREFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader]; Young People's Party or YPP [Cornelius DEVEAUS, interim chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Trade Unions and Student Unions

Population

5,732,681 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

68% (1989 est.)

Population growth rate

2.94% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios

1.12 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

84 km 1.067-m gauge

note

Sierra Leone has no common carrier railroads; the existing railroad is private and used on a limited basis while the mine at Marampa is closed (2001)

total

84 km

Religions

Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema

general assessment

marginal telephone and telegraph service

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

25,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

30,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1999)

Televisions

53,000 (1997)

Terrain

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Total fertility rate

5.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

800 km (of which 600 km is navigable year round)