Sierra Leone

Code: SL | Region: Africa

Introduction

Background

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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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references

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Africa

Area

total

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71,740 sq km

land

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71,620 sq km

water

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120 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries

total

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1,093 km

border countries

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Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km

Coastline

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402 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

continental shelf

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200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point

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Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

lowest point

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Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

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279 m

Natural resources

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diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use

agricultural land

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54.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

forest

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34.3% (2023 est.)

other

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11% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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300 sq km (2012)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

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Niger (2,261,741 sq km)

Population distribution

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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

Natural hazards

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dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Geography - note

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rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 in) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal western Africa

People and Society

Population

total

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9,331,203 (2025 est.)

male

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4,620,638

female

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4,710,565

Nationality

noun

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Sierra Leonean(s)

adjective

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Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups

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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.)

Languages

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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%)

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years

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

15-64 years

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

65 years and over

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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72.7 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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68.4 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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4.4 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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22.9 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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19.7 years (2025 est.)

male

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19 years

female

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19.9 years

Population growth rate

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2.24% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

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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

Urbanization

urban population

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44.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

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1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.97 male(s)/female

total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

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19.6 years (2019 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total

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70.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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76 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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66.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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59.4 years (2024 est.)

male

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57.8 years

female

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61 years

Total fertility rate

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3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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1.73 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 54.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 65.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 45.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 34.7% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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8.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 42.8% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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8.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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9.8% (2025 est.)

male

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14.8% (2025 est.)

female

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4.9% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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12% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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61.5% (2019 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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8.6% (2019)

women married by age 18

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29.6% (2019)

men married by age 18

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4.1% (2019)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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20.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population

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43.6% (2019 est.)

male

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54.6% (2019 est.)

female

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33.9% (2019 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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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

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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

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Environmental Modification

Climate

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

Land use

agricultural land

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54.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

forest

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34.3% (2023 est.)

other

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11% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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44.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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610,200 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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9.7% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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111 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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160 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Republic of Sierra Leone

conventional short form

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Sierra Leone

local long form

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Republic of Sierra Leone

local short form

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Sierra Leone

etymology

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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 type

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presidential republic

Capital

name

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Freetown

geographic coordinates

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8 29 N, 13 14 W

time difference

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

etymology

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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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mixed system of English common law and customary law

Constitution

history

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several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991

amendment process

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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

International law organization participation

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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citizenship by descent only

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

dual citizenship recognized

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yes

residency requirement for naturalization

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5 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)

head of government

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President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)

cabinet

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

election/appointment process

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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)

most recent election date

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24 June 2023

election results

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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%

expected date of next election

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June 2028

note

note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and minister of defense

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Parliament

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected)

electoral system

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proportional representation

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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6/24/2023

parties elected and seats per party

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

percentage of women in chamber

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29.5%

expected date of next election

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June 2028

note

note: 14 seats are reserved for "paramount chiefs," who are indirectly elected to represent the 14 provincial districts

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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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

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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

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magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025)

chancery

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

telephone

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[1] (202) 939-9261

FAX

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[1] (202) 483-1793

email address and website

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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

embassy

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Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown

mailing address

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2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC  20521-2160

telephone

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[232] 99 105 000

email address and website

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

International organization participation

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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

Independence

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27 April 1961 (from the UK)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Flag

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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

National symbol(s)

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lion

National color(s)

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green, white, blue

National anthem(s)

title

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"High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"

lyrics/music

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Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA

history

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adopted 1961

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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Gola-Tiwai Complex (n)

Economy

Economic overview

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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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$26.728 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$25.7 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$24.312 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

text

4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

5.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

5.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$3,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$3,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

text

$2,900 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$7.548 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

28.6% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

47.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

27.2% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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25.4% (2024 est.)

industry

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27.3% (2024 est.)

services

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44.8% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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87.6% (2024 est.)

government consumption

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5.5% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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29.5% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

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0% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

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20.9% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-43.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

text

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

Industrial production growth rate

text

4.7% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

text

2.863 million (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

3.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

3.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

3.2% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

text

3.6% (2024 est.)

male

text

4.8% (2024 est.)

female

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2.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

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56.8% (2018 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

text

35.7 (2018 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

3.4% (2018 est.)

highest 10%

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29.4% (2018 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2023

text

4.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

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2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$740 million (2019 est.)

expenditures

text

$867 million (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

54.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023

text

-$606.358 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$452.094 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2021

text

-$522.815 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2023

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$1.382 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

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$1.202 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

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$928.689 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2023

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$2.264 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$2.074 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

text

$1.91 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$495.699 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$624.496 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

text

$945.908 million (2021 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$1.451 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

leones (SLL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2023

text

21.305 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

14.048 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

10.439 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

9.83 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

text

9.01 (2019 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

29.4% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

55.3%

electrification - rural areas

text

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

149,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

131.321 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

81.921 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

84.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

text

2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

2.301 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

0 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

(2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

8.93 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

108 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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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

text

.sl

Internet users

percent of population

text

21% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

0 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

(2021 est.) less than 1

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

8 (2025)

Heliports

text

3 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

text

584 (2023)

by type

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

Ports

total ports

text

3 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

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0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

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0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

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0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

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0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

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0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military service age and obligation

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

Military - note

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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)