View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2013 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 government-owned TV station; 1 private TV station began operating in 2005; a pay-TV service began operations in late 2007; 1 government-owned national radio station; about two dozen private radio stations primarily clustered in major cities; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.sl

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

282 (2012) country comparison to the world: 191

Internet users [time series]

14,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

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

18,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 190

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.21 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 143

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $576.9 million expenditures: $773.5 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-5.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

21% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 21% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$-862.5 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $-1.212 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.172 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.049 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

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

62.9 (1989) country comparison to the world: 4

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its physical and social infrastructure has yet to recover from the civil war, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. Nearly half 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 completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation and in 2010 approved a new program worth $45 million over three years. Political stability has led to a revival of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of bauxite and rutile mining, which are set to benefit from planned tax incentives. A number of offshore oil discoveries were announced in 2009 and 2010. The development of these reserves, which could be significant, is still several years away, however, growth skyrocketed to more than 20% in 2012, as exploitation activities began.

Exchange rates [time series]

leones (SLL) per US dollar - 4,344 (2012 est.) 4,349.2 (2011 est.) 3,978.1 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$953.4 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $381.5 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

China 51.1%, Belgium 18.2%, Japan 7.7%, Turkey 4.8% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$3.738 billion (2012 est.)

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

$7.97 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $6.921 billion (2011 est.) $6.531 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 84.6% government consumption: 9.5% investment in fixed capital: 39.9% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 13.4% imports of goods and services: -47.4% (2012 est.)

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

agriculture: 51.8% industry: 15% services: 33.2% (2012 est.)

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

$1,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 $1,200 (2011 est.) $1,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

15.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 6% (2011 est.) 5.3% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

17.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 -1% of GDP (2011 est.) -1.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.6% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$1.597 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $1.631 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

China 16.5%, India 10.2%, South Africa 7.6%, US 6.7%, UK 6.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2012)

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]

12.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 16.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.207 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

70.2% (2004)

Public debt [time series]

36.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 41.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.152 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $621.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$1.719 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $979.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$429.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $369.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$324.7 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $276.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

15.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

1.492 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - production [time series]

25.39 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity - consumption [time series]

134.9 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

47.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

52.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

102,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - production [time series]

145 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 191

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

8,768 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

9,373 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 71,740 sq km country comparison to the world: 119 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 depleted natural resources; overfishing

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.21 cu km/yr (52%/26%/22%) per capita: 38.74 cu m/yr (2005)

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]

293.6 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 15.33% permanent crops: 1.88% other: 82.79% (2011)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

160 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Freetown geographic coordinates: 8 29 N, 13 14 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest in effect 1 October 1991; amended several times, last in 2010; note - in mid-2013 a committee was formed to review the constitution (2013)

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 Michael S. OWEN (since 16 August 2010) embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (76) 515 000 or (76) 515 000 FAX: [232] (76) 515 355

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS (since 28 March 2008) 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 Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 November 2012 (next to be held in 2017) election results: Ernest Bai KOROMA elected to a second term; percent of vote - Ernest Bai KOROMA 58.7%, Julius Maada BIO 37.4%, other 3.9%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown

Government type [time series]

constitutional democracy

Independence [time series]

27 April 1961 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court - at the apex - 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; note – the Judicature has jurisdiction in all civil, criminal, and constitutional matters 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 subject to the approval of Parliament; all Judicature judges appointed until retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 17 November 2012 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 69, SLPP 43

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion

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

All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA] Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON] People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI] Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Julius Maada BIO] numerous others

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

other: student unions; trade unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about a third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007 and 2012 national elections but still look to the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,183,093 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 731,898 females age 16-49: 838,032 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 54,212 female: 57,154 (2010 est.)

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

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 155

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); women are eligible to serve; no conscription; candidates must be HIV negative (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,169,343/female 1,181,669) 15-24 years: 19% (male 517,107/female 549,500) 25-54 years: 31.4% (male 847,115/female 914,650) 55-64 years: 4% (male 101,069/female 124,673) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 89,643/female 117,916) (2013 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.77 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 573,287 percentage: 48 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

21.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 28

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

11% (2010)

Death rate [time series]

11.26 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 79.3 % youth dependency ratio: 74.5 % elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 % potential support ratio: 20.9 (2013)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 35% of population total: 55% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 65% of population total: 45% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 125

Ethnic groups [time series]

Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.6% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

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

49,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

18.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 2

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 74.95 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 11 male: 83.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 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: 56.98 years country comparison to the world: 199 male: 54.47 years female: 59.56 years (2013 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 43.3% male: 54.7% female: 32.6% (2011 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, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

FREETOWN (capital) 875,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 4

Median age [time series]

total: 19 years male: 18.5 years female: 19.6 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

19 (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 184 note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2013 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

6.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 144

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

5,612,685 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Population growth rate [time series]

2.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 23% of population rural: 6% of population total: 13% of population unimproved: urban: 77% of population rural: 94% of population total: 87% of population (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 11 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.87 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 39.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

as domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups, rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone gradually abates, the number of refugees in border areas has begun to slowly dwindle; Sierra Leone considers excessive Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998

Transportation

Airports [time series]

8 (2013) country comparison to the world: 164

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 215 country comparison to the world: 34 by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 120, carrier 2, chemical tanker 19, container 6, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 98 (Bangladesh 1, China 19, Cyprus 2, Egypt 3, Estonia 2, Hong Kong 7, Japan 4, Lebanon 2, North Korea 2, Romania 2, Russia 7, Singapore 9, Syria 13, Taiwan 7, Turkey 9, UAE 1, UK 1, Ukraine 5, Yemen 2) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Roadways [time series]

total: 11,300 km country comparison to the world: 131 paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways [time series]

800 km (600 km navigable year round) (2011) country comparison to the world: 72