View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2006 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sl

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

20 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

10,000 (2005)

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: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

24,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

113,200 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1999)

Economy

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 (code)) [time series]

leone (SLL)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.61 billion (2003 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]

$297.4 million (2003 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. 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. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings, accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. 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 supplement government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a revival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxite mining.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

242.4 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

260.6 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

leones per US dollar - 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002), 1,986.2 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$185 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

Belgium 66.2%, Germany 13.5%, US 4.6% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.128 billion (2005 est.)

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

$4.939 billion (2005 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$800 (2005 est.)

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

7.5% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$531 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 18.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.2%, UK 8.5%, US 6.9%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5.4%, South Africa 4.1% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair

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%

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

6,510 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0.8361 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

68% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

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, 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]

300 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005)

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: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Freetown geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL 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 chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263 FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793

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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held 28 July 2007) 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, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 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 [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others

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

trade unions and student unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to support the government. Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to continuing progress in Sierra Leone's stability.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,086,091 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 539,697 (2005 est.)

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

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Air Wing, Maritime Wing)

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

1.7% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,321,563/female 1,370,721) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,502/female 1,625,733) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 90,958/female 101,773) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

23.03 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

20 African ethnic groups 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: 160.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 177.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 142.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 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 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: 40.22 years male: 38.05 years female: 42.46 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 29.6% male: 39.8% female: 20.5% (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2005)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.4 years male: 17.1 years female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate [time series]

0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

6,005,250 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.3% (2006 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: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuate insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 65,433 (Liberia) (2005)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

10 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 54 ships (1000 GRT or over) 185,037 GRT/249,996 DWT by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 3, combination ore/oil 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 14 (China 2, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Russia 1, Syria 1, UAE 3, Ukraine 4, US 1) (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Roadways [time series]

total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways [time series]

800 km (600 km year round) (2005)