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Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Population
8.6M
Rank #101Source: World Bank
Capital
Freetown
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$6.97B
Rank #156Source: World Bank
Land Area
71.7K km²
Rank #118Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
61.786 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 71,740 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation: mean elevation: 279 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural Hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Environmental 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...
Land Use: agricultural land: 56.2% (2011 est.) forest: 37.5% (2011 est.) other: 6.3% (2011 est.)
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
Natural Resources
diamondstitanium orebauxiteiron oregoldchromite
People & Society
Fertility Rate
3.79
Population
8.6M
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%)other Sierra Leone (4.7%)other foreign (0.3%)unspecified (0.2%)
Religions
Muslim (78.6%)Christian (20.8%)other (0.3%)unspecified (0.2%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$806.655
GDP per Capita PPP
3,522.306
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
820
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
35.7
(2018)
(2018)
Unemployment
3.103%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
28.634%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
35.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
71.6%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
1.462 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
5.29 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
75.282%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
34.299% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
20.635%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
107.882%
(2022)
(2022)
Broadband Subscribers
0.002%
(2021)
(2021)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
Not Available
Container Port Traffic
78,413 TEU
(2019)
(2019)
Airports
2,145
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing)
Personnel Strength
the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is comprised of about 8,500 personnel, including an estimated 300 in the air and maritime wings
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.04B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.46%
Military Expenditure History
0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.8% of GDP (2018) 1.1% of GDP (2017) 1.1% of GDP (2016) 0.9% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the RSLAF's small inventory includes a mix of Soviet-origin and other older foreign-supplied equipment; since 2010, it has received limited quantities of material from China and South Africa (2019...
Service Age & Obligation
18-29 for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
25.002%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
162.124%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
86.908%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
Not Available
Education Spending
2.625% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
43.58%
(2019)
(2019)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
27.522:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.134
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
68.079%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
10.895%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
94.3 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
16.869 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
60.153
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
48
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
91%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
41.5%
(2018)
(2018)
Food Insecurity
24.1%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
3.58%
(2018)
(2018)
Governance
Women in Government
29.53%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-0.30
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.24
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.16
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-1.06
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.83
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.57
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
Executive Branch
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...
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...
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,...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
lion; national colors: green, white, blue
National Anthem
name: High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA note: adopted 1961
Safety
Homicide Rate
2.224 per 100,000
(2020)
(2020)
Travel Information
Language(s): English
Currency: SLE (Le)
Timezone(s): UTC
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +232
Car Sign: WAL
Week Starts: Monday
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data