Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2001)

Internet country code [time series]

.sl

Internet users [time series]

20,000 (2001)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

25,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

30,000 (2001)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1999)

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: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

leone (SLL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

SLL

Debt - external [time series]

$1.5 billion (2002 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

62.9 (1989)

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

$103 million (2001 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have 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, following a 11-year civil war. 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. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and to supplement government revenues.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

232.6 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

250.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

leones per US dollar - 2,099.03 (2002), 1,986.15 (2001), 2,092.12 (2000), 1,804.19 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$35 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)

Exports - partners [time series]

Belgium 41.9%, Germany 28.1%, UK 3.6% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $2.826 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 49% industry: 31% services: 21% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)

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

6.6% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$190 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995)

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 25%, UK 10.9%, Netherlands 7.5%, US 5.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9%, Italy 4.3% (2002)

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]

1% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.369 million (1981 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Oil - consumption [time series]

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 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 [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 [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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

290 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6.76% permanent crops: 0.78% other: 92.46% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485 FAX: [232] (22) 225471

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263 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 last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%

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, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High 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 Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

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

All People's Congress or APC [Alhaji Sat KOROMA, interim chairman]; Citizens United for Peace and Progress or CUPP [Alfred Musa CONTEH, interim chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Jeridine WILLIAM-SARHO, interim leader]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Adu Aiah KOROMA]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [George E. L. PALMER]; Democratic Party or DP [Henry BALO, acting chairman]; National Alliance Democratic Party or NADP [Mohamed Yahya SILLAH, chairman]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National People's Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; National Republican Party or NRP [Stephen Sahr MAMBU]; National Unity Movement or NUM [Sam LEIGH, interim chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [John BENJAMINE, interim leader]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Alliance or PDA [Cpl. (Ret.) Abdul Rahman KAMARA, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Osman KAMARA]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward John KARGBO]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or RUFP [Foday Saybana SANKOH, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Andrew Victor LUNGAY]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or UNPP [John KAREFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader]; Young People's Party or YPP [Cornelius DEVEAUS, interim chairman]

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

Trade Unions and Student Unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority.

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

Army (RSLAF)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$10.26 million (FY02)

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

1.5% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,228,664 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 596,617 (2003 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

43.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

11,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

170,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 146.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 128.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 164.23 deaths/1,000 live births

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 descendants 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: 42.84 years male: 40.33 years female: 45.42 years (2003 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.)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.5 years male: 17.2 years female: 17.8 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate [time series]

6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

5,732,681 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.94% (2003 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: 0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

large UN peacekeeping presence ended civil war but rebel gang fighting, ethnic rivalries, illegal diamond trading, corruption, and refugees spill over into neighboring states beset with their own civil disorder, refugees, and violence

Airports [time series]

10 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 7

Heliports [time series]

2 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 11,330 km paved: 895 km unpaved: 10,435 km (1999)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT ships by type: cargo 2

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

Railways [time series]

total: 84 km narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge note: Sierra Leone has no common carrier railroads; the existing railroad is private and used on a limited basis while the mine at Marampa is closed (2001)

Waterways [time series]

800 km (of which 600 km is navigable year round)