Sierra Leone Facts

Sierra Leone, State of West Africa; 72,000 km², 7.6 million residents (2019).Sierra Leone borders in the north and northeast to Guinea and in the southeast to Liberia and has the west coast to the Atlantic. The capital is Freetown (1 million residents, 2015).

Country facts

• Republic of Sierra Leone / Republic of Sierra Leone
• Country abbreviation: SL
• Area: 72 000 km²
• Population (2019): 7.6 million residents
• Capital: Freetown
• Main languages: mende, krio, english
• State: Republic
• Head of State and Head of Government: Julius Maada Bio (President)
• Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 523
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 500
• Currency unit: 1 leone = 100 cents
• Currency code: SLL
• Country number (telephony): 232
• Internet domain name: sl
• Time difference compared to Sweden: −1
• National Day: April 27 (Independence Day, 1961)

Nature

• Land use: forest (28%), agricultural land (8%), other (64%)
• Highest mountain: Loma (1,948 m above sea level)

Population

• Population density (2019): 106 residents per km²
• Natural population growth (2019): 2.0%; birth number 32 ‰, death number 12 ‰
• Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (41%), 15-64 (56%), 65- (3%)
• Average life expectancy (2019): men 53 years, women 55 years
• Infant mortality (2019): 56 per 1,000 live births
• Population forecast 2050: 13 million residents
• HDI (2017): 0.419 (place 184 of 189)
• Urbanization rate (2019): 41%
• Most populous city (2015): Freetown (1 million residents)

Business

• Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (61%), industry (6%), service (33%)
• Exports (2017): US $ 808 million
• Main export products: iron, diamonds, rutile
• Main exporting countries: Ivory Coast, Belgium, USA
• Imports (2017): USD 1,107 million
• Main import products: food, machinery, fuel
• Main importing countries: China, USA, Belgium
• Railway network: nothing in operation

The country has a strongly torn coast with many islands. The coastal area is low, marshy and covered with mangroves. Further in, the country has a wavy and varied topography. Sierra Leone has a tropical climate with a pronounced rainy season and dry season.

The country’s president is both the head of state as well as the head of government and commander-in-chief. The president is elected in general elections for five years and can be re-elected at one time. Parliament is also elected for five years.

The country’s economy is based on agriculture and mining. Although Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, economic growth is low. A large part of the population lives on self-sustaining agriculture and work in the informal sector. Contributing to the poor economic result is the 1990s civil war, import costs and administrative inefficiency. Half of the country’s population is estimated to have been homeless or refugees abroad during the civil war.

Sierra Leone Map