Sierra Leone

Internet country code

.sl

Internet hosts

277 (2004)

Internet users

8,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)

Telephone system

general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

24,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

67,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1999)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $96 million expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Currency (code)

leone (SLL)

Debt - external

$1.5 billion (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

62.9 (1989)

Economic aid - recipient

$103 million (2001 est.)

Economy - overview

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds 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. Plans to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during an 11 year civil war have not been implemented due to lack of foreign investment. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings. 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. International financial institutions contributed over $600 million in development aid and budgetary support in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

237.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

255.3 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

leones per US dollar - 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002), 1,986.2 (2001), 2,092.1 (2000)

Exports

$49 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)

Exports - partners

Belgium 61.6%, Germany 11.8%, US 5.4% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.335 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 49% industry: 30% services: 21% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Imports

$264 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995)

Imports - partners

Germany 14%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.7%, UK 9.1%, US 8.4%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5%, South Africa 4.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

Labor force

1.369 million (1981 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Oil - consumption

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

68% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA

Area

total: 71,740 sq km 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 depleting natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

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

290 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 6.98% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.13% (2001)

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Freetown

Constitution

1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485 FAX: [232] (22) 225471

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA 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 Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

27 April 1961 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

Legal system

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Political parties and leaders

All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others

Political pressure groups and leaders

trade unions and student unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The 1991 to 2002 civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. However, the gradual withdrawal of most UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers in 2004 and early 2005, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to the continuation of Sierra Leone's stability.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,110,077 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 552,785 (2005 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$13.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (2004)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,318,508/female 1,371,164) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,068/female 1,637,276) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 93,047/female 103,580) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

42.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

20.61 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

170,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 143.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 161.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 125.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 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: 39.87 years male: 37.74 years female: 42.06 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 29.6% male: 39.8% female: 20.5% (2000 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 and yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2004)

Median age

total: 17.53 years male: 17.2 years female: 17.84 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2005 est.)

Population

6,017,643 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

2.22% (2005 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuate insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 67,000 (Liberia) (2004)

Airports

10 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports

2 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT by type: petroleum tanker 2 (2005)

Ports and harbors

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Waterways

800 km (2003)