Sierra Leone

Full name of country: Republic of Sierra Leone

Region: Africa

Official language: English

Population: 9,121,049 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Sierra Leonean(s) (noun), Sierra Leonean (adjective)

Land area: 71,620 sq km (27,653 sq miles)

Water area: 120 sq km (46 sq miles)

Capital: Freetown

National anthem: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free", by Clifford Nelson Fyle/John Joseph Aka

National holiday: Independence Day, April 27 (1961)

Population growth: 2.32% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +0

Flag: Sierra Leone’s flag is a horizontal tricolor of green (top), white (middle), and blue (bottom). The green symbolizes the mountains and natural resources, the blue represents the water, and the white represents justice.

Independence: April 27, 1961 (from the UK)

Government type: constitutional democracy

Suffrage: universal for those eighteen years of age and older

Legal system: based on a mixture of English common law and customary law

Sierra Leone ("Lion Mountain" in Portuguese) is a small West African country. Officially named the Republic of Sierra Leone, it is bordered by Guinea on the north and west and by Liberia on the southeast. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the south and west. Sierra Leone is famous for its mineral industries, particularly for its controversial diamond mines. However, its citizens rely mainly on subsistence and cash-crop agriculture.

During the first decades of the twenty-first century ,Sierra Leone continued to recover from a civil war that lasted from 1991 until 2002, damaging the economy and causing widespread poverty and starvation. Yet despite the legacy of this conflict, as well as ongoing issues such as poverty and illiteracy, Sierra Leone enjoyed relative stability in the twenty-first century and retained its reputation for religious tolerance. The country also has a long tradition of intellectual and scientific accomplishment. Some well-known Sierra Leoneans include novelist William F. Conton and biochemist Dr. Davison Nichol.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Sierra Leone has a diverse population, made up primarily of different Indigenous African ethnic groups. The largest ethnic groups are the Temne and the Mende people, representing 35.4 percent and 30.8 percent of the population, respectively. Other groups include the Limba (8.8 percent), Kono (4.3 percent), and Fullah (3.8 percent) peoples. The Creole or Krio people, descendants of freed Jamaican enslaved people who immigrated to Africa, make up around 1.2 percent of the population (2019 estimates). Small communities of Lebanese, Indians, Pakistanis, and Europeans are also present.

Islam is the predominant religion, practiced by an estimated 77.1 percent of the population. Another 22.9 percent identify as Christian (2019 estimates). The country has a reputation for religious tolerance and relatively good relations between practitioners of different faiths.

While English is the official language of Sierra Leone, it is not regularly used except by a literate minority. The most widely spoken languages are Mende in the south, Temne in the north, and Krio, an English-based creole that is understood by an estimated 95 percent of the population, despite being the first language of just 10 percent. A variety of other Indigenous languages are also spoken.

Indigenous People: The Indigenous peoples of Sierra Leone include at least seventeen African ethnic groups. The largest group, the Temne people, live primarily in the northern part of the country, as do the Limba people. The Mende people, the second-largest ethnic group, are mostly found in the south. The Limba people, who make up about 6.4 percent of the population, are the third largest ethnic group in the country and also live in the north. Other ethnic groups include the Kono, Fullah, Loko (or Landogo), Kuranko, Sherbro, and Mandinka (or Mandingo) peoples.

The Portuguese were the first European explorers to reach the region, arriving in the fifteenth century. The British founded the colony of Sierra Leone, which was known as the "Province of Freedom," in 1787. The colony was a social experiment that would provide a home for formerly enslaved people and poor Black Europeans. After the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade in 1807, the capital city, Freetown, became a place where illegal enslavers were tried by British courts. The Black settlers began to prosper through trade.

The descendants of these Black settlers are known today as the Creole or Krio people. They have their own unique language and customs that have been influenced by African rituals, language, and folklore.

Education: Historically, Sierra Leone has had a sophisticated and influential educational system. The Fourah Bay College, an important African university, was founded in 1827. While it was under British colonial control, Sierra Leone had a highly educated and intellectual ruling class. Creoles became important participants in education and government.

Today, education in Sierra Leone consists of six years of primary school, three years of lower secondary school, and three years of upper secondary school. School is free and, in principle, compulsory between the ages of six and fifteen. Primary school attendance is relatively high for the region, but only about 48 percent of students who start grade 1 ultimately reach grade 5. In particular, students living in rural areas face many obstacles, including having to walk long distances to reach their schools and to balance schoolwork with domestic responsibilities that are important for their families' survival. Sierra Leone continues to work to modernize and rebuild its schools and to train more teachers. The literacy rate among Sierra Leoneans ages fifteen and older was around 35 percent in 2004 but had increased to an estimated 48.6 percent (56.3 percent among men, 41.3 percent among women) by 2022.

Health Care: The health and welfare sectors in Sierra Leone are controlled by the central government. The country has a number of hospitals; the most modern and advanced medical clinics are located in the capital of Freetown and in the city of Bo. Public health and health care in Sierra Leone face many problems. Many people are too poor to buy medicine or to pay for medical services. The civil war destroyed much of the country's health infrastructure and equipment.

Infectious diseases such as malaria, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever, yellow fever, and other illnesses are a problem in the country, as are residual physical and mental health problems from the civil war. Common diseases include polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and measles; the government provides immunizations for these illnesses. The country was also hard hit by the Ebola epidemic in 2014.

Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 443 deaths per 100,000 live births (2020 estimate). The average life expectancy at birth is 57.8 years, higher for women (61 years) than for men (57.8 years) (2024 estimates). Sierra Leone was ranked 184 out of 193 countries on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Food: Many Sierra Leonean dishes consist of meat, rice, and root vegetables such as cassava and sweet potatoes. Fish is frequently consumed in the coastal areas, and tropical fruits like bananas and plantains are also common. Fried plantains are a snack food prepared with salt, hot sauce, ginger, or sugar. Egusi soup, which is made from watermelon seeds, meat, fish, and tomatoes, is another popular dish. Binch akara is made from black-eyed beans, salt, and onions.

Arts & Entertainment: The arts in Sierra Leone revolve around music, dance, and crafts such as wood and ivory carving. Dance is often used at ceremonies; in addition to its ethnic dance traditions, the country has its own national ballet company. Craftspeople create ornamental masks and statues out of natural materials such as bone, wood, or ivory.

Sierra Leone's music is influenced by African and European music. One popular type of music, known as palm-wine or maringa music, is derived in part from calypso music. Other musical styles in Sierra Leone include bissaun gumbe music and milo-jazz. One of the most famous Sierra Leonean musicians was S. E. Rogie, who specialized in palm wine music and performed internationally.

In addition to the fine arts and performing arts, Sierra Leone has produced a number of famous writers, including Africanus Horton, William F. Conton, and Syl Cheney-Coker.

Holidays: Independence Day is celebrated in Sierra Leone on April 27. This holiday commemorates the granting of independence from Great Britain in 1961, and is marked with parades and other celebrations. One of the largest parades, the Lantern Parade, is held in Freetown. The country's Muslim and Christian populations also celebrate their respective religious holidays.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Sierra Leone has four different physical and vegetative zones: coastal plains, interior plains, plateaus, and mountains. The coastal plain region is located in the west; it is a low-lying area made up of sand and clay soil that averages from 32 to 64 kilometers (20 to 40 miles) wide and features mangrove swamps, rivers, estuaries, and lagoons. Some physical features of this region include beach ridges, alluvial plains, and coastal terraces. It is home to many of the country's waterfowl and fish species. The capital of Freetown is located on the Sierra Leone Peninsula on the central part of the western coast. The peninsula features forests and mountains, as well as coastal swamps.

The interior plains run from north to south and include "bolilands" or grassy savannas, rolling hills, and low plateaus. The altitude of the interior plains ranges from 40 to 200 meters (131 to 656 feet), and accounts for around 31,418 square kilometers (12,130 square miles) of the country's land area.

The plateau region is located in the eastern half of the country and is about half the size of the interior plains region, accounting for 7,691 square kilometers (2,969 square miles), or a little over 10 percent, of Sierra Leone's land area. The altitude of the plateau region reaches up to 700 meters (2,296 feet) above sea level. This area features rolling hills and plains.

The forested mountain regions of Sierra Leone reach altitudes of over 700 meters (2,296 feet). These mountains are often forested, and in the Loma Mountains in the northeast they can reach heights of over 1,828 meters (6,000 feet). Loma Mansa, or Bintimani, is the tallest peak in Sierra Leone, measuring 1,948 meters (about 6,391 feet). The 1,852-meter (6,079-foot) Sankanbiriwa Peak is another one of the country's tallest mountains; it is located in the Tingi Hills. Sierra Leone's major rivers include the Rokel, the Pampana, the Sewa, and the Moa.

Natural Resources: Diamonds and iron ore are Sierra Leone's most economically important natural resources. The country is also rich in other minerals, including rutile (titanium dioxide) and bauxite. The country's mining operations were interrupted during the civil war, when rebels took control of many of the mines.

Gold, platinum, and chromite are also found in Sierra Leone. Farming is important in the country, and 56.2 percent of the land is used for agricultural purposes (2018 estimate).

Plants & Animals: The rain forests and coastal and inland waters of Sierra Leone are known for their biological diversity. There are a large number of primates living in the country, including colobus monkeys, diana monkeys, and chimpanzees. Animals such as the pygmy hippopotamus, river otters, African elephants, leopards, fruit bats, lions, manatees, and zebras can also be found there.

There are numerous fish species native to Sierra Leone, including the mountain barbel, the Guinean killi, various species of lampeye and catfish, bull sharks, tetras, and gobies. Coral reefs grow off the coast of the country. Well over six hundred bird species have been recorded in the country, including plovers, swallows, parrots, starlings, hornbills, vultures, and bee-eaters.

Plant life is also diverse. Forests contain rare and valuable hardwood trees such as teak and African mahogany, although palm and cotton trees are more common. Areas of Sierra Leone that are covered with savanna feature plants and trees that are fire-resistant. Mangroves thrive in swampy areas, and sea grasses can be found along the coast.

Climate: Sierra Leone has a tropical rainforest climate, with a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season lasts from May to December, with an average rainfall of about 3,100 millimeters (122 inches). However, precipitation can range from 2,000 to 4,300 millimeters (78 to 169 inches) in some areas. The heaviest rainfall occurs in coastal areas.

The dry season lasts for the rest of the year, from December to April, and is characterized by dry winds, or harmattan, which originate in the Sahara Desert. The country also receives monsoon winds, which are cooler and blow in from the ocean. The hottest temperatures in Sierra Leone occur in March, and average around 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest temperatures can reach 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) in January. The northeastern part of the country tends to experience the most extreme temperatures.

Economy

The mining and mineral industries continue to be the most important economic sector in Sierra Leone. Diamonds are the most valuable raw material found in the country, although they have frequently been at the center of controversy over smuggling and corruption. "Conflict diamonds" are diamonds that are used in money-laundering operations to fund rebel groups and criminals, and to support war. They have been smuggled over Sierra Leone's borders. Political corruption also affects the diamond industry, and was particularly rampant during the civil war.

The civil war was devastating to Sierra Leone's economy. When it ended in 2002, international agencies and foreign countries provided aid, and the process of rebuilding the country's economy is ongoing. Sierra Leone belongs to the Economic Community of West African States and to the Mano River Union, a customs union. It has relied on aid donations from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy, among other countries, but was becoming more independent up until 2014, when the widespread Ebola virus outbreak disrupted transportation, health, and industrial production, among other sectors of the economy.

Between 2014 and 2015, Sierra Leone's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by about 20.5 percent—more than US$2.6 billion—largely due to the Ebola epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak over in late 2015, and recovery efforts began. Though initially slowed by low commodity prices, GDP grew by at least 6 percent annually over the next two years. By 2023, the GDP had reached US$25.671 billion (US$3,000 per capita) in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).

Industry: The mineral industry remains an important sector in Sierra Leone. Diamond, iron ore, and rutile (titanium dioxide) exports account for most of the revenues. Other industries that are important to Sierra Leone include small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, and footwear), petroleum refining, and small commercial ship repair.

Agriculture: Subsistence agriculture is the most common form of agriculture in Sierra Leone, and is practiced by over 60 percent of the working-age population. The agricultural sector contributed an estimated 60.7 percent of GDP in 2017.

Among the major products grown for export are cocoa and coffee. The country's tropical climate is also suitable for growing rice, palm kernels, and peanuts, among other crops. Cattle, sheep, poultry, and pigs are raised for meat by Sierra Leonean farmers. Fish are another important agricultural product.

Tourism: Tourism is a growing sector in Sierra Leone. The civil war made the country very dangerous for visitors, but Sierra Leone has since been attempting to modernize, to build more hotels and resorts, and to make itself more tourist-friendly.

Popular tourist attractions include the country's sandy beaches and tropical rainforests. Bunce Island, a former British colonial prison that was founded in 1670, is also a popular site among visitors interested in the country's history.

Government

Modern Sierra Leone is located in a region of West Africa that was historically important to colonial trade, communication, and settlement. Although European contact began with the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, Great Britain formed the earliest settlements there. The area became a British Crown Colony in 1808, one year after the abolition of the slave trade. Until 1961, Sierra Leone was administered by a bureaucracy based on the British colonial system. It had a parliament, a cabinet, and a governor general who represented Great Britain.

Sierra Leone gained its independence on April 27, 1961, but the early government of the republic failed to represent all of the people adequately. It catered to the wealthier classes and to the powerful Mende ethnic group. As a result of tensions caused by political inequality, there was a military coup in March 1967. This coup began a period of political unrest that lasted until 1978, when the constitution was rewritten to ensure a one-party system of government.

The one-party system led to a number of problems, particularly during elections, which were marked by widespread corruption and murder in the 1980s. In 1991, after nearly three decades of political conflict, Sierra Leone returned to a multiparty system of government. However, a 1992 coup prevented the country from becoming a democracy. A civil war between the governing National Provisional Ruling Council and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel group, followed. Thousands of people were killed and many were maimed, as the RUF often tortured its victims with amputation. The RUF also frequently kidnapped and drugged children, and used child soldiers in its ranks.

The 1999 Lome Peace Agreement was signed in order to placate the RUF leaders with political positions and to bring United Nations peacekeepers into the country, but it failed to achieve lasting peace. After a process of disarmament and ceasefire agreements in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the civil war was officially declared to be over in January 2002. However, the process to reintegrate rebels into society lasted years, and former RUF members continued to be tried for war crimes. The UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone remained open until March 2014.

In the aftermath of the war, Sierra Leone positioned itself as a constitutional democracy with a democratically elected president who serves as both chief of state and head of government. It maintains a multiparty system. Some of the major political parties are the All People's Congress (APC), the Coalition for Change (C4C), and the Sierra Leone's People's Party (SLPP). While the government has been known to interfere with the press, civil rights such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech are protected. The Supreme Court of Judicature is the highest court in the judicial branch of government. Chiefs and councils of elders head local governments throughout the country.

Julius Maada Bio won a second term as president in June 2023 in hotly disputed presidential elections, with the opposition claiming voting irregularities and international election observers highlighting problems with transparency in the tallying of votes.

Interesting Facts

• Tiwai Island, the largest inland island in Sierra Leone, has the highest concentration and most diverse population of primates in the world.
• When Fourah Bay College was founded, it attracted students from all over West Africa and became known as the "Athens of Africa."
• In the eighteenth century, Freetown was also known as Romarong, which means "the place of the wailers." It gained this name because of maritime disasters off the country's coast.
• Rice is an important staple food in Sierra Leone, and the Mende people have over twenty words for different kinds of rice.

Bibliography

Bermúdez-Lugo, Omayra. 2014 Minerals Yearbook: Sierra Leone (Advance Release). US Geological Survey, US Dept. of the Interior, June 2017. USGS National Minerals Information Center, minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2014/myb3-2014-sl.pdf. Accessed 18 July 2018.

Human Development Insights, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

"Sierra Leone." Education Policy and Data Center, FHI 360, 26 June 2018, www.epdc.org/country/sierraleone. Accessed 23 July 2019.

"Sierra Leone." UNICEF Data: Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women, UNICEF, data.unicef.org/country/sle/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2020.

"Sierra Leone." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/sierra-leone. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

"Sierra Leone." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sierra-leone/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

"Sierra Leone Country Profile." BBC News, 27 Nov. 2023, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14094194. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

"State House: Sierra Leone." Government of Sierra Leone, statehouse.gov.sl. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.