2020 Edition

Background

Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland. In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results.  In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system.

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

Geographic coordinates

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Geography - note

rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 in) 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

54.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

forest

34.3% (2023 est.)

other

11% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Niger (2,261,741 sq km)

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, as shown on this population distribution map

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

40.1% (male 1,843,606/female 1,812,304)

15-64 years

57.4% (male 2,557,715/female 2,675,418)

65 years and over

2.5% (2024 est.) (male 114,405/female 117,601)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

30.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

4.1% (2019)

women married by age 15

8.6% (2019)

women married by age 18

29.6% (2019)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

61.5% (2019 est.)

Death rate

8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.4 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

22.9 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

72.7 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

68.4 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 54.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 65.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 45.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 34.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

20.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Temne 35.4%, Mende 30.8%, Limba 8.8%, Kono 4.3%, Korankoh 4%, Fullah 3.8%, Mandingo 2.8%, Loko 2%, Sherbro 1.9%, 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 5% (2019 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.73 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

66.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

76 deaths/1,000 live births

total

70.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Life expectancy at birth

female

61 years

male

57.8 years

total population

59.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

33.9% (2019 est.)

male

54.6% (2019 est.)

total population

43.6% (2019 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

19.9 years

male

19 years

total

19.7 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.6 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Sierra Leonean

noun

Sierra Leonean(s)

Net migration rate

1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.7% (2016)

Physician density

0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

4,710,565

male

4,620,638

total

9,331,203 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

2.24% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 42.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.9% (2025 est.)

male

14.8% (2025 est.)

total

9.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

44.3% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans

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

amendment process

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

history

several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Sierra Leone

conventional short form

Sierra Leone

etymology

Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA is usually credited with naming the country "Serra da Leao" (Lion Mountains) in 1462, but Venetian explorer Alvise CA' DA MOSTO recorded the name as "Serre-Lionne" in 1457, referring to the rumbling of thunder over the mountains

local long form

Republic of Sierra Leone

local short form

Sierra Leone

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jared M. YANCEY (since 18 September 2025)

email address and website

consularfreetown@state.gov https://sl.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown

mailing address

2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC 20521-2160

telephone

[232] 99 105 000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605

chief of mission

Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025)

email address and website

info@embassyofsierraleone.net https://embassyofsierraleone.net/

FAX

[1] (202) 483-1793

telephone

[1] (202) 939-9261

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 27 June 2023)

election results

2023: Julius Maada BIO reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 56.2%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 41.2%, other 2.6% 2018: Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by 55% in the first round or absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

expected date of next election

June 2028

head of government

President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)

most recent election date

24 June 2023

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue meaning: green stands for agriculture, mountains, and natural resources; white for unity and justice; and blue for 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, ATMIS, 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, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court at the top, 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)

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 system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

June 2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament

most recent election date

6/24/2023

number of seats

149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) (81); All People's Congress (APC) (54)

percentage of women in chamber

29.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1961

lyrics/music

Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA

title

"High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"

National color(s)

green, white, blue

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Gola-Tiwai Complex (n)

total World Heritage Sites

1 (natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties

All People's Congress or APC  Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruits, fruits, groundnuts, sugarcane (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$867 million (2019 est.)

revenues

$740 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$522.815 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$452.094 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$606.358 million (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$1.451 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

low-income West African economy; primarily subsistent agriculture; key iron and diamond mining activities suspended; slow recovery from 1990s civil war; systemic corruption; high-risk debt; high youth unemployment; natural resource rich

Exchange rates

Currency

leones (SLL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

9.01 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

9.83 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

10.439 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

14.048 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

21.305 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$928.689 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$1.202 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$1.382 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, aluminum ore, cocoa beans (2023)

Exports - partners

China 67%, India 6%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4%, Ireland 3% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

20.9% (2024 est.)

government consumption

5.5% (2024 est.)

household consumption

87.6% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-43.5% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.5% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

25.4% (2024 est.)

industry

27.3% (2024 est.)

services

44.8% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.548 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

35.7 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29.4% (2018 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4% (2018 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$1.91 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$2.074 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$2.264 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

rice, plastic products, packaged medicine, cement, cars (2023)

Imports - partners

China 32%, India 15%, UAE 5%, USA 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

27.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

47.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

28.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.863 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

56.8% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

54.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$24.312 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$25.7 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$26.728 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,100 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

4.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$945.908 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$624.496 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$495.699 million (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

3.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

2.5% (2024 est.)

male

4.8% (2024 est.)

total

3.6% (2024 est.)

Electricity

consumption

131.321 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

149,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

81.921 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

5%

electrification - total population

29.4% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

55.3%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

84.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

2.301 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2021 est.) less than 1

total

0 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; 1 pay-TV service; 1 state-owned national radio station; about 24 private radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available (2019)

Internet country code

.sl

Internet users

percent of population

21% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

0 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

8.93 million (2022 est.)

Airports

8 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9L

Heliports

3 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 33, container ship 8, general cargo 320, oil tanker 97, other 126

total

584 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

2

small

1

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Military - note

the RSLAF’s primary responsibilities are securing the country's borders and territorial waters, supporting civil authorities during internal emergencies, and participating in peacekeeping missions; since the end of the civil war in 2002, it has received assistance from several foreign militaries, including those of Canada, China, France, the UK, and the US the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and The Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Wars (2025)

Military and security forces

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): organized as a Joint Force Command with land, air, and maritime components Ministry of Internal Affairs: Sierra Leone Police (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the RSLAF has a small inventory comprised of obsolescent or secondhand imported armaments (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture resulting in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Particulate matter emissions

45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

160 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

111 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

610,200 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

9.7% (2022 est.)