Sierra Leone

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

• population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west;
• the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on this population distribution map

noun:

Sierra Leonean(s)

adjective:

Sierra Leonean

total:

19.7 years (2025 est.)

male:

19 years

female:

19.9 years

• population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west;
• the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on this population distribution map

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.97 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

70.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

76 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

66.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

59.4 years (2024 est.)

male:

57.8 years

female:

61 years

total:

3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

9.8% (2025 est.)

male:

14.8% (2025 est.)

female:

4.9% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

8.6% (2019)

women married by age 18:

29.6% (2019)

men married by age 18:

4.1% (2019)

• overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture resulting in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding;
• loss of biodiversity;
• air pollution;
• water pollution;
• overfishing

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

urban population:

44.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

610,200 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

9.7% (2022 est.)

municipal:

111 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Sierra Leone

conventional short form:

Sierra Leone

local long form:

Republic of Sierra Leone

local short form:

Sierra Leone

etymology:

Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA is usually credited with naming the country "Serra da Leao" (Lion Mountains) in 1462, but Venetian explorer Alvise CA' DA MOSTO recorded the name as "Serre-Lionne" in 1457, referring to the rumbling of thunder over the mountains

name:

Freetown

geographic coordinates:

8 29 N, 13 14 W

time difference:

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans

history:

several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991

amendment process:

• proposed by Parliament;
• passage of amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in two successive readings and assent of the president of the republic;
• passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms and many other constitutional sections also requires approval in a referendum with participation of at least one half of qualified voters and at least two thirds of votes cast

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

5 years

highest court(s):

Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court at the top, 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)

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 are subject to approval by Parliament;
• all Judicature judges serve until retirement at age 65

subordinate courts:

• magistrates' courts;
• District Appeals Court;
• local courts

chief of mission:

Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025)

chancery:

1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605

telephone:

[1] (202) 939-9261

FAX:

[1] (202) 483-1793

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://embassyofsierraleone.net/

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jared M. YANCEY (since 18 September 2025)

embassy:

Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown

mailing address:

2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC 20521-2160

telephone:

[232] 99 105 000

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://sl.usembassy.gov/

description:

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

meaning:

• green stands for agriculture, mountains, and natural resources;
• white for unity and justice;
• and blue for the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown

title:

"High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"

lyrics/music:

Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA

history:

adopted 1961

total World Heritage Sites:

1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Gola-Tiwai Complex (n)

• low-income West African economy;
• primarily subsistent agriculture;
• key iron and diamond mining activities suspended;
• slow recovery from 1990s civil war;
• systemic corruption;
• high-risk debt;
• high youth unemployment;
• natural resource rich

• diamond mining;
• iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining;
• small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)

total:

3.6% (2024 est.)

male:

4.8% (2024 est.)

female:

2.5% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

3.4% (2018 est.)

highest 10%:

29.4% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

total subscriptions:

0 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2022 est.) less than 1

• 1 state-owned TV station;
• 3 private TV stations;
• 1 pay-TV service;
• 1 state-owned national radio station;
• about 24 private radio stations;
• transmissions of several international broadcasters available (2019)

total:

0 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2021 est.) less than 1

total ports:

3 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

1

very small:

2

ports with oil terminals:

2

key ports:

Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF):

organized as a Joint Force Command with land, air, and maritime components

Ministry of Internal Affairs:

Sierra Leone Police (2025)