2019 Edition

Background

The British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown in the 17th century. Originally, the trade involved timber and ivory, but later it expanded to slaves. Following the American Revolution, a colony was established in 1787 and Sierra Leone became a destination for resettling black loyalists who had originally been resettled in Nova Scotia. After the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, British crews delivered thousands of Africans liberated from illegal slave ships to Sierra Leone, particularly Freetown. The colony gradually expanded inland during the course of the 19th century; independence was attained in 1961. Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war (1991-2002) that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, has developed as a guarantor of the country's stability; the armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007, 2012, and 2018 national elections. In March 2014, the closure of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone marked the end of more than 15 years of peacekeeping and political operations in Sierra Leone. The government's stated priorities include free primary and secondary education, economic growth, accountable governance, health, and infrastructure.

Area

Land

71,620 sq km

Total

71,740 sq km

Water

120 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

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

Coastline

402 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

279 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, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing

Environment International Agreements

Party To

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed But Not Ratified

Environmental Modification

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

Irrigated Land

300 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Guinea 794 km, Liberia 299 km

Total

1,093 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

56.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

23.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

30.5% (2011 est.)

Forest

37.5% (2011 est.)

Other

6.3% (2011 est.)

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

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

Population Distribution

population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

41.71% (male 1,314,905 /female 1,317,921)

15 24 Years

18.6% (male 572,274 /female 602,105)

25 54 Years

32.23% (male 973,698 /female 1,060,688)

55 64 Years

3.7% (male 110,176 /female 123,268)

65 Years And Over

3.76% (male 97,922 /female 139,255) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

36 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

18.2% (2013)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

22.5% (2017)

Current Health Expenditure

16.5% (2016)

Death Rate

10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Sierra Leone’s youthful and growing population is driven by its high total fertility rate (TFR) of almost 5 children per woman, which has declined little over the last two decades. Its elevated TFR is sustained by the continued desire for large families, the low level of contraceptive use, and the early start of childbearing. Despite its high TFR, Sierra Leone’s population growth is somewhat tempered by high infant, child, and maternal mortality rates that are among the world’s highest and are a result of poverty, a lack of potable water and sanitation, poor nutrition, limited access to quality health care services, and the prevalence of female genital cutting.Sierra Leone’s large youth cohort – about 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – continues to struggle with high levels of unemployment, which was one of the major causes of the country’s 1991-2002 civil war and remains a threat to stability today. Its estimated 60% youth unemployment rate is attributed to high levels of illiteracy and unskilled labor, a lack of private sector jobs, and low pay.Sierra Leone has been a source of and destination for refugees. Sierra Leone’s civil war internally displaced as many as 2 million people, or almost half the population, and forced almost another half million to seek refuge in neighboring countries (370,000 Sierra Leoneans fled to Guinea and 120,000 to Liberia). The UNHCR has helped almost 180,000 Sierra Leoneans to return home, while more than 90,000 others have repatriated on their own. Of the more than 65,000 Liberians who took refuge in Sierra Leone during their country’s civil war (1989-2003), about 50,000 have been voluntarily repatriated by the UNHCR and others have returned home independently. As of 2015, less than 1,000 Liberians still reside in Sierra Leone.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

4.6 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

21.9 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

82.6 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

78 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

47.8% of population

Improved Total

62.6% of population

Improved Urban

84.9% of population

Unimproved Rural

52.2% of population

Unimproved Total

37.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

15.1% of population

Education Expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

Temne 35.5%, Mende 33.2%, Limba 6.4%, Kono 4.4%, Fullah 3.4%, Loko 2.9%, Koranko 2.8%, Sherbro 2.6%, Mandingo 2.4%, Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), other Sierra Leone 4.7%, other foreign 0.3% (includes refugees from Liberia's civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians), unspecified 0.2% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

1.5% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

2,100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

70,000 (2018 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

58.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

74.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

66.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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%)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

61.7 years

Male

56.4 years

Total Population

59 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

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

Female

37.7% (2015)

Male

58.7%

Total Population

48.1%

Major Infectious Diseases

Aerosolized Dust Or Soil Contact Diseases

Lassa fever (2016)

Animal Contact Diseases

rabies (2016)

Degree Of Risk

very high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.168 million FREETOWN (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

1,120 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

19.7 years

Male

18.4 years

Total

19.1 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

19.2 years (2013 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Sierra Leonean

Noun

Sierra Leonean(s)

Net Migration Rate

-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

8.7% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.03 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

6,312,212 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.4% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 78.6%, Christian 20.8%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2013 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

6.9% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

13.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

22.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

93.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

86.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

77.2% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.95 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.92 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.89 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.7 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

4.69 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

6.1% (2014 est.)

Male

14.8%

Total

9.4%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

3.12% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

42.5% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western*

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

8 29 N, 13 14 W

Name

Freetown

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone

Dual Citizenship Recognized

yes

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in two successive readings and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms and many other constitutional sections also requires approval in a referendum with participation of at least one half of qualified voters and at least two thirds of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2013 (2017)

History

several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of Sierra Leone

Conventional Short Form

Sierra Leone

Etymology

the Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA named the country "Serra Leoa" (Lion Mountains) for the impressive mountains he saw while sailing the West African coast in 1462

Local Long Form

Republic of Sierra Leone

Local Short Form

Sierra Leone

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Maria E. BREWER (since 20 December 2017)

Embassy

Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown

Fax

[232] 99 515 355

Mailing Address

use embassy street address

Telephone

[232] 99 105 000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr WAI (since 4 April 2008)

Fax

[1] (202) 483-1793

Telephone

[1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president

Chief Of State

President Julius Maada BIO (since 4 April 2018); Vice President Mohamed Juldeh JALLOH (since 4 April 2018) ; note - the president is both chief of state, head of government, and minister of defense

Election Results

Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2%

Elections Appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 4 April 2018 (next to be in March 2023)

Head Of Government

President Julius Maada BIO (since 4 April 2018); Vice President Mohamed Juldeh JALLOH (since 4 April 2018)

Flag Description

three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

27 April 1961 (from the UK)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court - at the apex - with the chief justice and 4 other judges, the Court of Appeal with the chief justice and 7 other judges, and the High Court of Justice with the chief justice and 9 other judges); note – the Judicature has jurisdiction in all civil, criminal, and constitutional matters

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Supreme Court chief justice and other judges of the Judicature appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 7-member independent body of judges, presidential appointees, and the Commission chairman, and are subject to approval by Parliament; all Judicature judges serve until retirement at age 65

Subordinate Courts

magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Parliament (146 seats; 132 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 14 seats filled in separate elections by non-partisan members of Parliament called "paramount chiefs;" members serve 5-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - n/a; seats by party - APC 68, SLPP 49, C4C 8, other 7; composition - men 131, women 15, percent of women 10.3%

Elections

last held on 7 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA

Name

High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free

National Holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

National Symbol S

lion; national colors: green, white, blue

Political Parties And Leaders

All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA] Coalition for Change or C4C [Tamba R. SANDY] National Grand Coalition or NGC [Dr. Dennis BRIGHT] Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Dr. Prince HARDING] numerous other parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

846.4 million (2017 est.)

Revenues

562 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-7.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

NA

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

18.04%

31 December 2017

17.92%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$88 million

2017

-$407 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$1.503 billion

31 December 2017

$1.615 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

1989

62.9

2011

34

Economy Overview

Sierra Leone is extremely poor and nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. The country possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, but it is still recovering from a civil war that destroyed most institutions before ending in the early 2000s.In recent years, economic growth has been driven by mining - particularly iron ore. The country’s principal exports are iron ore, diamonds, and rutile, and the economy is vulnerable to fluctuations in international prices. Until 2014, the government had relied on external assistance to support its budget, but it was gradually becoming more independent. The Ebola outbreak of 2014 and 2015, combined with falling global commodities prices, caused a significant contraction of economic activity in all areas. While the World Health Organization declared an end to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone in November 2015, low commodity prices in 2015-2016 contributed to the country’s biggest fiscal shortfall since 2001. In 2017, increased iron ore exports, together with the end of the Ebola epidemic, supported a resumption of economic growth.Continued economic growth will depend on rising commodities prices and increased efforts to diversify the sources of growth. Non-mining activities will remain constrained by inadequate infrastructure, such as power and roads, even though power sector projects may provide some additional electricity capacity in the near term. Pervasive corruption and undeveloped human capital will continue to deter foreign investors. Sustained international donor support in the near future will partially offset these fiscal constraints.

Exchange Rates

2013

4,524.2

2014

5,080.8

2015

6,289.9

2016

6,289.9

2017

7,396.3

Currency

leones (SLL) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$670 million

2017

$808.4 million

Exports Commodities

iron ore, diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports Partners

Cote dIvoire 37.7%, Belgium 20.5%, US 15.7%, China 10.2%, Netherlands 6.1% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

26.8% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

12.1% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

97.9% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-55.3% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

18.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

60.7% (2017 est.)

Industry

6.5% (2017 est.)

Services

32.9% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$3.612 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$1,500

2016

$1,500

2017

$1,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$10.48 billion

2016

$11.14 billion

2017

$11.55 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

-20.5%

2016

6.3%

2017

3.7%

Gross National Saving

2015

-5.9% of GDP

2016

7.9% of GDP

2017

10% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

33.6% (2003)

Lowest 10

2.6%

Imports

2016

$972.8 million

2017

$1.107 billion

Imports Commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports Partners

China 11.5%, US 9.2%, Belgium 8.8%, UAE 7.7%, India 7.4%, Turkey 5.2%, Senegal 5.1%, Netherlands 4.3% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

15.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

10.9%

2017

18.2%

Labor Force

2.972 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

61.1%

Industry

5.5%

Services

33.4% (2014 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

70.2% (2004 est.)

Public Debt

2016

54.9% of GDP

2017

63.9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$497.2 million

31 December 2017

$478 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$381.8 million

31 December 2017

$387.4 million

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2014

$6.7 million

31 December 2017

$56.8 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$1.832 billion

31 December 2017

$1.042 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$527.6 million

31 December 2017

$572.6 million

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$381.8 million

31 December 2017

$387.4 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

15.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

17.2%

2017

15%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

984,800 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

20% (2017)

Electrification Total Population

20% (2017)

Electrification Urban Areas

19% (2017)

Population Without Electricity

6 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

279 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

23% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

113,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

300 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

6,500 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

6,439 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

1 government-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; 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 (2019)

Internet Country Code

.sl

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

11.8% (July 2016 est.)

Total

708,615

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 102 per 100 (2018)

General Assessment

telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector; the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector; mobile sector high penetration; investments in upgrades to LTE (2018)

International

country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

17,000

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

102 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

6,279,270

Airports

8 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

Over 3 047 M

1 (2017)

Total

1 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

7 (2013)

Total

7 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

9L (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 21, container ship 10, general cargo 255, oil tanker 68, other 115 (2018)

Total

469

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

50,193 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Waterways

800 km (600 km navigable year-round) (2011)

Military And Security Forces

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

0.97% of GDP

2015

0.92% of GDP

2016

1.14% of GDP

2017

1.11% of GDP

2018

0.8% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-29 for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve; no conscription (2019)

Disputes International

Sierra Leone opposes Guinean troops' continued occupation of Yenga, a small village on the Makona River that serves as a border with Guinea; Guinea's forces came to Yenga in the mid-1990s to help the Sierra Leonean military to suppress rebels and to secure their common border but have remained there even after both countries signed a 2005 agreement acknowledging that Yenga belonged to Sierra Leone; in 2012, the two sides signed a declaration to demilitarize the area