Sierra Leone

Presidential RepublicPop9.3MGDP (PPP)$26.7BCI41Beta CP0.0→Beta

Sierra Leone

⌘K

Overview

Background: Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland.
In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results. In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system.

Geography

Area

Land: 71,620 sq km
Water: 120 sq km
Total: 71,740 sq km

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Land Use

Other: 11% (2023 est.)
Forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Coastline: 402 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Mean elevation: 279 m

Irrigated land: 300 sq km (2012)
Map references: Africa

Land Boundaries

Total: 1,093 km
Border countries: Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Geography note: rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 in) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal western Africa
Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Area comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Population distribution: 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

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 54.6% (2019 est.)
Female: 33.9% (2019 est.)
Total population: 43.6% (2019 est.)

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; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Religions: Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 30.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 19 years
Total: 19.7 years (2025 est.)
Female: 19.9 years

Population

Male: 4,620,638
Total: 9,331,203 (2025 est.)
Female: 4,710,565

Nationality

Noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
Adjective: Sierra Leonean

Tobacco Use

Male: 14.8% (2025 est.)
Total: 9.8% (2025 est.)
Female: 4.9% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 40.1% (male 1,843,606/female 1,812,304)
15 64 years: 57.4% (male 2,557,715/female 2,675,418)
65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 114,405/female 117,601)

Ethnic groups: Temne 35.4%, Mende 30.8%, Limba 8.8%, Kono 4.3%, Korankoh 4%, Fullah 3.8%, Mandingo 2.8%, Loko 2%, Sherbro 1.9%, Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), other 5% (2019 est.)

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 4.1% (2019)
Women married BY age 15: 8.6% (2019)
Women married BY age 18: 29.6% (2019)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 72.7 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 68.4 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 22.9 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 54.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 65.3% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 45.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 34.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 76 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 70.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 2.24% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.73 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 57.8 years
Female: 61 years
Total population: 59.4 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 42.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 3.22 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.)

Major urban areas population: 1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 8.7% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 61.5% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12% (2021 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: 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

Capital

Name: Freetown
Etymology: the name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 8 29 N, 13 14 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

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

Constitution

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

Country Name

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
Local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
Local short form: Sierra Leone
Conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
Conventional short form: Sierra Leone

Independence: 27 April 1961 (from the UK)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

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)
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and minister of defense
Cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president
Chief of state: President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)
Election results: 2023: Julius Maada BIO reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 56.2%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 41.2%, other 2.6%

2018: Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2%
Head of government: President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)
Most recent election date: 24 June 2023
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by 55% in the first round or absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Expected date of next election: June 2028

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
National color(s): green, white, blue

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 1 (natural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Gola-Tiwai Complex (n)

Political parties: All People's Congress or APC
Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP

Legislative Branch

Note: note: 14 seats are reserved for "paramount chiefs," who are indirectly elected to represent the 14 provincial districts
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: Parliament
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 6/24/2023
Expected date of next election: June 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 29.5%
Parties elected and seats per party: Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) (81); All People's Congress (APC) (54)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"
History: adopted 1961
Lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA

National symbol(s): lion
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western*

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 483-1793
Chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605
Telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261
Chief of mission: Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025)
Email address and website: info@embassyofsierraleone.net

https://embassyofsierraleone.net/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Telephone: [232] 99 105 000
Mailing address: 2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC  20521-2160
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jared M. YANCEY (since 18 September 2025)
Email address and website: consularfreetown@state.gov

https://sl.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, 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, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

SIERRA LEONE · LEGISLATURE

Parliament

149 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

149

Majority line

Largest party

Sierra Leone People's Party

Parties

All political parties4 parties · 149 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

JB
Julius Maada Bio
- Head of StateSince 2018
DS
David Sengeh
- Head of GovernmentSince 2023

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $740 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $867 million (2019 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.2B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2021: $928.689 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $1.202 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $1.382 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.6B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2021: $1.91 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $2.074 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $2.264 billion (2023 est.)

Industries: diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)
Labor force: 2.863 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 54.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 54.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 4.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: leones (SLL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019: 9.01 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 9.83 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 10.439 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 14.048 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 21.305 (2023 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $1.451 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: 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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.1%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: China 67%, India 6%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4%, Ireland 3% (2023)
Imports partners: China 32%, India 15%, UAE 5%, USA 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $3,522

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.3%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruits, fruits, groundnuts, sugarcane (2023)
Exports commodities: iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, aluminum ore, cocoa beans (2023)
Imports commodities: rice, plastic products, packaged medicine, cement, cars (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$984.3M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2021: -$522.815 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$452.094 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$606.358 million (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $7.548 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 87.6% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 20.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 56.8% (2018 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 28.6%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 27.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 47.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 28.6% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $26.728 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $24.312 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $25.7 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $26.728 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Female: 2.5% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $945.908 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $624.496 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $495.699 million (2023 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 27.3% (2024 est.)
Services: 44.8% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 25.4% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 3.4% (2018 est.)
Highest 10%: 29.4% (2018 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2018: 35.7 (2018 est.)

Energy

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 131.321 million kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 149,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 81.921 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 5%
Electrification urban areas: 55.3%
Electrification total population: 29.4% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.301 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 84.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 21% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: 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)
Internet country code: .sl

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 8.93 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2022 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 0 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 0
Key ports: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Very small: 2
Total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 2

Airports: 8 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 584 (2023)
BY type: bulk carrier 33, container ship 8, general cargo 320, oil tanker 97, other 126

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9L

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 11% (2023 est.)
Forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 610,200 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.7% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: 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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 111 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 160 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Military & Security

Military note: the RSLAF’s primary responsibilities are securing the country's borders and territorial waters, supporting civil authorities during internal emergencies, and participating in peacekeeping missions; since the end of the civil war in 2002, it has received assistance from several foreign militaries, including those of Canada, China, France, the UK, and the US

the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and The Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Wars (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.5%

Military expenditures 2020: 0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: 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)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RSLAF has a small inventory comprised of obsolescent or secondhand imported armaments (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index41.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4107 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.35as of 2024-Q487 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (67/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Sierra Leone — vintage 2026-Q1: Sierra Leone factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/sierra-leone

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Sierra Leone

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Literacy

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Parliament

Current

Julius Maada Bio

David Sengeh

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Debt External

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures

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