Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave NA

Radios [time series]

980,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

marginal telephone and telegraph service domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

17,526 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

45,000 (1992 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $96 million expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 leone (Le) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$1.15 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$203.7 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. The period of AFRC/RUF junta rule (May 1997-February 1998) led to UN sanctions and 20% drop in GDP in 1997. The continued fighting at yearend 1997 set back what small progress had been made by the KABBAH government in recovering from the junta period and reestablishing a viable economy. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Bauxite and rutile mines have been shut down by civil strife. The major source of hard currency is found in the mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled out of the country. The fate of the economy in 1999 depends on the outcome of negotiations to end the civil strife.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

230 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

230 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

leones (Le) per US$1--1,630.5 (January 1999), 1,597.2 (1998), 981.48 (1997), 920.73 (1996), 755.22 (1995), 586.74 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$41 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Belgium 49%, Spain 10%, US 8%, UK 3% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July--30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$2.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 52% industry: 16% services: 32% (1996)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$530 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

0.7% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Imports [time series]

$166 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

UK 16%, US 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 3% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

37.4% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.369 million (1981 est.) note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

68% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

402 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Irrigated land [time series]

290 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 31% forests and woodland: 28% other: 33% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*

Capital [time series]

Freetown

Constitution [time series]

1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone

Data code [time series]

SL

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph MELROSE; note--embassy closed in late December 1998 embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of vote--first round--KABBAH 36.0%, second round--KABBAH 59.5%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

Government type [time series]

constitutional democracy

Independence [time series]

27 April 1961 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Representatives (80 seats--68 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note--first elections since the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 27 April (1961)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

15 parties registered for the M. B. JALLOH]; National Alliance for Democracy Party or NADP

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

On 25 May 1997, the democratically-elected government of President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH was overthrown by a disgruntled coalition of army personnel from the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under the command of Major Johnny Paul KOROMA; President KABBAH fled to exile in Guinea. The Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) forces, led by a strong Nigerian contingent, undertook the suppression of the rebellion. They were initially unsuccessful, but, by October 1997, they forced the rebels to agree to a cease-fire and to a plan to return the government to democratic control. President KABBAH returned to office on 10 March 1998 to face the task of restoring order to a demoralized population and a disorganized and severely damaged economy. Many of the leaders of the coup were tried and executed in October 1998. In January 1999, the situation had deteriorated even further, with commerce at a standstill, hundreds of thousands of people driven from their homes, and bitter fighting between the AFRC/RUF and ECOMOG troops intensifying by large-scale import of arms.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$46 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (FY96/97)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,119,239 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 543,210 (1999 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 1,182,181; female 1,219,956) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,307,475; female 1,423,046) 65 years and over: 3% (male 82,374; female 81,619) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole 10% (descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-eighteenth century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Infant mortality rate [time series]

126.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 49.13 years male: 46.07 years female: 52.27 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 31.4% male: 45.4% female: 18.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate [time series]

14.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

5,296,651 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

4.34% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

10 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 11,700 km paved: 1,287 km unpaved: 10,413 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

Railways [time series]

total: 84 km used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa is closed narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

800 km; 600 km navigable year round