Sierra Leone
Republic of Sierra Leone
constitutional democracyIndependence 27 April 1961 (from the UK)
Sierra Leone as the 2013 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
20 fieldsLand useshare of 71,740 sq km
Climate
- tropical;
- hot, humid;
- summer rainy season (May to December);
- winter dry season (December to April)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.21 cu km/yr (52%/26%/22%)
- per capita:
- 38.74 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues
- 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
Environment - international agreements
- 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
Geography - note
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
People and Society
36 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2013 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2008 census)
Languages
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%)
Net migration rate
-3.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 184 note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2013 est.)
Sex ratio
- 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.)
Major infectious diseases
- 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)
Government
Constitutional democracy; President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007); President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament, 112 seats, elected 17 November 2012one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Sierra Leone
- conventional short form:
- Sierra Leone
- local long form:
- Republic of Sierra Leone
- local short form:
- Sierra Leone
Capital
- name:
- Freetown
- geographic coordinates:
- 8 29 N, 13 14 W
- time difference:
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
- 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)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- 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%
Legislative branch
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
Judicial branch
- 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
Political parties and leaders
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
International organization participation
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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
Flag description
- 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
Economy
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution.
39 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
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.
Gross national saving
17.2% of GDP (2012 est.) · -1% of GDP (2011 est.) · -1.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Agriculture - products
- rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts;
- poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs;
- fish
Industries
- diamond mining;
- small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear);
- petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Commercial bank prime lending rate
21% (31 December 2012 est.) · 21% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of narrow money
$324.7 million (31 December 2012 est.) · $276.2 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Stock of broad money
$1.152 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $621.3 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Stock of domestic credit
$429.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) · $369.9 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Current account balance
$-862.5 million (2012 est.); $-1.212 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Debt - external
$1.172 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.049 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$1.719 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $979.1 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Exchange rates
leones (SLL) per US dollar - 4,344 (2012 est.) · 4,349.2 (2011 est.) · 3,978.1 (2010 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 102,000 kW(2010 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
1.492 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- 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)
Broadcast media
- 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)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine, 215 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2013)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2013)
Military service age and obligation
- 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)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
- 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sierra Leone.” The World Factbook 2013. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sierra-leone/2013.