Sierra Leone

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)

Internet country code

.sl

Internet hosts

282 (2012) country comparison to the world: 191

Internet users

14,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199

Telephone 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

18,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 190

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.21 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 143

Agriculture - products

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Budget

revenues: $576.9 million expenditures: $773.5 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

21% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 21% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-862.5 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $-1.212 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$1.172 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.049 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

62.9 (1989) country comparison to the world: 4

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.

Exchange rates

leones (SLL) per US dollar - 4,344 (2012 est.) 4,349.2 (2011 est.) 3,978.1 (2010 est.)

Exports

$953.4 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $381.5 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners

China 51.1%, Belgium 18.2%, Japan 7.7%, Turkey 4.8% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.738 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.97 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $6.921 billion (2011 est.) $6.531 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 84.6% government consumption: 9.5% investment in fixed capital: 39.9% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 13.4% imports of goods and services: -47.4% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 51.8% industry: 15% services: 33.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 $1,200 (2011 est.) $1,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

15.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 6% (2011 est.) 5.3% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving

17.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 -1% of GDP (2011 est.) -1.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.6% (2003)

Imports

$1.597 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $1.631 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners

China 16.5%, India 10.2%, South Africa 7.6%, US 6.7%, UK 6.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 16.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force

2.207 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

70.2% (2004)

Public debt

36.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 41.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.152 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $621.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.719 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $979.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$429.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $369.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$324.7 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $276.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.492 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - production

25.39 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity - consumption

134.9 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from fossil fuels

47.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

52.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - installed generating capacity

102,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - production

145 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 191

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,768 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Refined petroleum products - imports

9,373 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Area

total: 71,740 sq km country comparison to the world: 119 land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

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

Coastline

402 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.21 cu km/yr (52%/26%/22%) per capita: 38.74 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates

8 30 N, 11 30 W

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

Irrigated land

293.6 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Land use

arable land: 15.33% permanent crops: 1.88% other: 82.79% (2011)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Natural resources

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Terrain

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Total renewable water resources

160 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*

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)

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

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

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

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%

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

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

27 April 1961 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

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

National anthem

name: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

National symbol(s)

lion

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: student unions; trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,183,093 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 731,898 females age 16-49: 838,032 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 54,212 female: 57,154 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 155

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,169,343/female 1,181,669) 15-24 years: 19% (male 517,107/female 549,500) 25-54 years: 31.4% (male 847,115/female 914,650) 55-64 years: 4% (male 101,069/female 124,673) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 89,643/female 117,916) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

37.77 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 573,287 percentage: 48 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 28

Contraceptive prevalence rate

11% (2010)

Death rate

11.26 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 79.3 % youth dependency ratio: 74.5 % elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 % potential support ratio: 20.9 (2013)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 35% of population total: 55% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 65% of population total: 45% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 125

Ethnic groups

Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.6% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

49,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Health expenditures

18.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 2

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

total: 74.95 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 11 male: 83.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 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 who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 56.98 years country comparison to the world: 199 male: 54.47 years female: 59.56 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 43.3% male: 54.7% female: 32.6% (2011 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)

Major urban areas - population

FREETOWN (capital) 875,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 4

Median age

total: 19 years male: 18.5 years female: 19.6 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19 (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

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.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 144

Physicians density

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

5,612,685 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Population growth rate

2.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Religions

Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 23% of population rural: 6% of population total: 13% of population unimproved: urban: 77% of population rural: 94% of population total: 87% of population (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 11 years (2007)

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.)

Total fertility rate

4.87 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Urbanization

urban population: 39.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - 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

Airports

8 (2013) country comparison to the world: 164

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 215 country comparison to the world: 34 by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 120, carrier 2, chemical tanker 19, container 6, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 98 (Bangladesh 1, China 19, Cyprus 2, Egypt 3, Estonia 2, Hong Kong 7, Japan 4, Lebanon 2, North Korea 2, Romania 2, Russia 7, Singapore 9, Syria 13, Taiwan 7, Turkey 9, UAE 1, UK 1, Ukraine 5, Yemen 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Roadways

total: 11,300 km country comparison to the world: 131 paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways

800 km (600 km navigable year round) (2011) country comparison to the world: 72