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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 [time series]

total: 85,600 | percent of population: 1.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2001)

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 [time series]

total subscriptions: 16,500 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 4.8 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

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: $730.3 million | expenditures: $908.8 million (2014 est.)

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

-3.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

19.8% (31 December 2014 est.) | 20.56% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Current account balance [time series]

-$382 million (2014 est.) | -$925.5 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Debt - external [time series]

$1.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

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 extremely poor and nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. The country possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, but it is still recovering from a civil war that destroyed most institutions before ending in the early 2000s. In recent years economic growth has been driven by mining - particularly iron ore. The country’s principal exports are iron ore, diamonds, and rutile, and the economy is vulnerable to fluctuations in international prices. In 2014, rapid spread of Ebolavirus caused a contraction of economic activity in several areas, including transportation, health, and industrial production. Iron ore production dropped, due to low global prices and high costs, driven by the epidemic. A long-term shutdown of the industry would badly hurt the economy because it supports thousands of jobs and creates about 20% of GDP. Until 2014, the government had relied on external assistance to support its budget, but it was gradually becoming more independent. The epidemic has disrupted economic activity, deterred private investment, and forced the government to increase expenditures on health care, straining the budget and restricting other public investment projects. A rise in international donor support will partially offset these fiscal constraints.

Exchange rates [time series]

leones (SLL) per US dollar - | 4,376.1 (2014 est.) | 4,332.5 (2013 est.) | 4,344 (2012 est.) | 4,336.1 (2011 est.) | 3,978.1 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$2.241 billion (2014 est.) | $1.917 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

China 80%, Belgium 8.8% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$5.033 billion (2014 est.)

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

$12.63 billion (2014 est.) | $11.91 billion (2013 est.) | $9.915 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 154

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 42.5% | industry: 26.8% | services: 30.7% (2014 est.)

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

$2,000 (2014 est.) | $1,900 (2013 est.) | $1,600 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 200

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

6% (2014 est.) | 20.1% (2013 est.) | 15.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Gross national saving [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | 10.3% of GDP (2013 est.) | 3.3% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.069 billion (2014 est.) | $1.97 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

China 13.2%, US 7.1%, India 6.8%, UK 6.6%, Belgium 6.1%, Netherlands 4.7%, South Africa 4.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

88.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1

Industries [time series]

diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8.3% (2014 est.) | 10.3% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Labor force [time series]

2.471 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

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 est.)

Public debt [time series]

30.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | 30.3% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Stock of broad money [time series]

$960.1 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $857.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$400,000 (31 December 2014 est.) | $400,000 (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

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

$2.704 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.319 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$652.7 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $547.1 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$448.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $370.6 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

13.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Energy

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

1.311 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

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: 121

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - consumption [time series]

134.9 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

33.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

66.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

81,000 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - production [time series]

145 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

9,540 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

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: 194

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 71,740 sq km | land: 71,620 sq km | water: 120 sq km | country comparison to the world: 119

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: 1,093 km | border countries (2): Guinea 794 km, Liberia 299 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 56.2% | arable land 23.4%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 30.5% | forest: 37.5% | other: 6.3% (2011 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: 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 John HOOVER (since 4 November 4 December 2014)) | 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 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, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-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 reelected president; percent of vote - Ernest Bai KOROMA (APC) 58.7%, Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 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 (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, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, 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]

description: unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 12 seats filled in separate elections by non-partisan members of Parliament called "paramount chiefs;" members serve 5-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" | lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA | note: adopted 1961

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion; national colors: green, white, blue

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

All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA] | Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Kandeh Baba CONTEH] | People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI] | Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sumanu KAPEN] | United Democratic Movement or UDM [Mohamed BANGURA] | numerous other parties

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]

The British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown in the 17th century. Originally the trade involved timber and ivory, but later it expanded into slaves. Following the American Revolution, a colony was established in 1787 and Sierra Leone became a destination for resettling black loyalists who had originally been resettled in Nova Scotia. After the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, British crews delivered thousands of Africans liberated from illegal slave ships to Sierra Leone, particularly Freetown. The colony gradually expanded inland during the course of the 19th century; independence was attained in 1961. Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war (1991-2002) that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one 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, and deployed over 850 peacekeepers to the African Union Mission in Somalia. As of January 2014, Sierra Leone also fielded 122 staff for five UN peacekeeping missions. In March 2014, the closure of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone marked the end of more than 15 years of peacekeeping and political operations in Sierra Leone. The government's stated priorities include furthering development - including recovering from the Ebola epidemic - 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]

0.72% of GDP (2012) | 0.8% of GDP (2011) | 0.72% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 118

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: 41.93% (male 1,228,380/female 1,236,475) | 15-24 years: 18.67% (male 532,738/female 564,828) | 25-54 years: 31.85% (male 898,538/female 973,908) | 55-64 years: 3.82% (male 102,915/female 121,864) | 65 years and over: 3.73% (male 92,777/female 126,675) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.03 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

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]

18.1% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 34

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

16.6% (2013)

Death rate [time series]

10.81 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 81.9% | youth dependency ratio: 77.1% | elderly dependency ratio: 4.9% | potential support ratio: 20.6% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.9% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 141

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]

1.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,700 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

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

54,000 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

11.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 5

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 71.68 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 80.14 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 62.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

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: 57.79 years | male: 55.23 years | female: 60.42 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic | total population: 48.1% | male: 58.7% | female: 37.7% (2015 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) 1.007 million (2015)

Median age [time series]

total: 19 years | male: 18.4 years | female: 19.6 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) | adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population | note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

6.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 144

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

5,879,098 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Population growth rate [time series]

2.35% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.8 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 39.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 2.75% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Sierra Leone opposes Guinean troops' continued occupation of Yenga, a small village on the Makona River that serves as a border with Guinea; Guinea's forces came to Yenga in the mid-1990s to help the Sierra Leonean military to suppress rebels and to secure their common border but have remained there even after both countries signed a 2005 agreement acknowledging that Yenga belonged to Sierra Leone; in 2012, the two sides signed a declaration to demilitarize the area

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 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 34

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Roadways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

800 km (600 km navigable year round) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 71