Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2021 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
0 (2021 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.sl
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
25.10% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
0 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
108 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
8.93 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruits, fruits, groundnuts, sugarcane (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$867 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$740 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$737.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$472.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.003 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$293.9 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$679.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$591.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$508.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$390.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$522.815 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$452.094 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$606.358 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$984.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$2.401 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$1.451 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
21.3049 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
leones (SLL) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
4.3325 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
4.5242 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
5.0807 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
6.2903 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
7.3844 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
7.9316 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
9.0102 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
9.8299 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
10.4394 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
14.0476 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
21.3049 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, aluminum ore, cocoa beans (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$466.4 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.554 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$711.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$858.6 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$796.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$718.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$632.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$661.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$928.689 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.202 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$1.382 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$1.204 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
20.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
5.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
87.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-43.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
29.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
25.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
27.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
44.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,522 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.548 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$30.440 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
35.7 (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
29.4% (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.4% (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
rice, plastic products, packaged medicine, cement, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$769.9 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$1.765 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.762 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$1.591 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$1.670 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.818 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.386 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.91 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$2.074 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$2.264 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$1.623 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
6.69% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
10.89% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
18.22% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
16.03% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
14.80% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
13.45% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
11.87% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
27.21% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
47.64% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
28.63% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.863 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
56.80% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
54.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$18.993 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$18.017 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$18.986 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$18.459 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$20.908 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$21.515 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$23.065 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$24.312 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$25.7 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$26.728 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-4.36% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.44% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.21% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.89% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.50% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-1.25% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.90% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.31% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.71% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.29% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$2,762 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$2,560 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$2,635 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$2,501 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$2,704 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$2,719 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,849 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,144 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,368 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$69.7 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$62.4 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$48.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$177.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
4.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$320.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$579.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$497.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$549.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$501.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$530.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$707.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$945.908 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$624.496 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$495.699 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$433.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.20% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
3.51% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.14% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.09% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
2.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
4.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
3.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
5%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
29.4% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
55.3%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
84.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
131.321 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
149,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
81.921 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.301 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Environment: 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
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
54.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
34.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
11% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
160 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
111 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
45.36% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
610,200 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
9.7% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Geography: Area: land
71,620 sq km
Geography: Area: water
120 sq km
Geography: Coastline
402 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
279 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
300 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,093 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
54.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
34.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
11% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Government: Administrative divisions
4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western*
Government: Capital: etymology
the name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
8 29 N, 13 14 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Sierra Leone
Government: Country name: 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
Government: Country name: local long form
Republic of Sierra Leone
Government: Country name: local short form
Sierra Leone
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jared M. YANCEY (since 18 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
consularfreetown@state.gov https://sl.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC 20521-2160
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[232] 99 105 000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@embassyofsierraleone.net https://embassyofsierraleone.net/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 483-1793
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 939-9261
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
June 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
24 June 2023
Government: 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: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
June 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
6/24/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) (81); All People's Congress (APC) (54)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
29.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1961
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA
Government: National color(s)
green, white, blue
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Gola-Tiwai Complex (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: Political parties
All People's Congress or APC Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the RSLAF has a small inventory comprised of obsolescent or secondhand imported armaments (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.58% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.71% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.68% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.47% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.38% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.58% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.60% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.46% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
40.1% (male 1,843,606/female 1,812,304)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
57.4% (male 2,557,715/female 2,675,418)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
2.5% (2024 est.) (male 114,405/female 117,601)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
30.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
4.1% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
8.6% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
29.6% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
12% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.72% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
61.5% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
4.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
22.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
72.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
68.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 54.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 65.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 45.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 34.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.5% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.62% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.73 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
66.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
76 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
54.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
63.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
60.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
33.9% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
54.6% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
43.58% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
19.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.6 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Sierra Leonean
People and Society: Net migration rate
1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.7% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
8,642,022 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.12% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
4,710,565
People and Society: Population: male
4,620,638
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 42.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
14.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.70 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
45.36% (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
8 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9L
Transportation: Heliports
3 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 33, container ship 8, general cargo 320, oil tanker 97, other 126
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
584 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.