Sierra Leone
sovereign state in West Africa
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
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
Natural resources
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
People & Society
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.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
27 April 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$26.728 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$3,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
28.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
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)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
Sierra Leone is a republic[1]. It draws 34,579 Wikipedia views per month (republic category, ranking #10 of 32).[2]
Key Facts
- Discoverer or inventor: Pedro de Sintra[3]
- Member of: United Nations[4], Commonwealth of Nations[5], African Union[6], World Trade Organization[7], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[8], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[9], International Development Association[10], International Finance Corporation[11], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[12], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[13], African Development Bank[14], United Nations–African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur[15], Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States[16], Interpol[17]
- Country: Sierra Leone[18]
- Located in or next to body of water: Atlantic Ocean[19]
- Head of government: David Sengeh[20]
- Continent: Africa[21]
- Instance of: sovereign state[22], country[23]
- Head of state: Julius Maada Bio[24]
- Capital: Freetown[25]
- Official language: English[26], Krio[27]
- Currency: leone[28]
- Shares border with: Guinea[29], Liberia[30]
- Top-level Internet domain: .sl[31]
- Anthem: High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free[32]
- Basic form of government: presidential system[33]
- Named after: Lion Mountains[34]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Northern Province[35], Southern Province[36], Eastern Province[37], Western Area[38], North West Province[39]
- Follows: Commonwealth realm of Sierra Leone[40]
- Flag: flag of Sierra Leone[41]
- Legislative body: Parliament of Sierra Leone[42]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of Sierra Leone[43]
- Commons category: Sierra Leone[44]
- Licence plate code: WAL[45]
- Located in time zone: UTC±00:00[46], Africa/Freetown[47]
- Telephone country code: +232[48]
Body
Influence
Things named for Sierra Leone include Star of it[49], a diamond[50].
Why It Matters
Sierra Leone has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[51] It is known by 37 alternative names across languages and contexts.[52]
Entities named for it include Star of it[49], a diamond[50].