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: 192

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

14,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 197

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.137 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 139

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $527.5 million expenditures: $685.7 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

21.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 21% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$969.9 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 -$1.153 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$827.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $829.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

62.9 (1989) country comparison to the world: 5

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 on 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 - 4,370.3 (2012 est.) 4,336.1 (2011 est.) 3,978.1 (2010 est.)

Exports

$1.168 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $426.9 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners

Belgium 28.8%, Romania 12.5%, Netherlands 9.2%, China 7.3%, US 6.9%, Turkey 6%, UK 5.8% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.824 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.376 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $6.906 billion (2011 est.) $6.514 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 43.2% industry: 37.4% services: 19.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 $1,200 (2011 est.) $1,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

21.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 6% (2011 est.) 5.3% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.675 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $1.571 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners

China 16%, South Africa 11.1%, US 7.3%, UK 7.1%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.3% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 16.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force

2.207 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

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

60.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 80.8% 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

$477.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $366.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$685.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $369.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$398 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $276.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.335 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - consumption

111.6 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from fossil fuels

92.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

7.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - installed generating capacity

52,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - production

120 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - consumption

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

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,768 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Refined petroleum products - exports

522.9 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,117 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Refined petroleum products - production

4,381 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

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: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%) per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)

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

300 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005)

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 (1987)

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

1 October 1991; amended several times

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 embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or (76) 515 000 FAX: [232] (22) 515 355

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS 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%

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

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

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" lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA note: adopted 1961

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) (2010)

Military expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 64

Military service age and obligation

17 years 6 months of age for male and female voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription; candidates must be HIV negative (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,141,091/ female 1,155,542) 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,432,837/ female 1,554,853) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 88,127/ female 113,548) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

38.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Death rate

11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 93

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

13.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 6

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

total: 76.64 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 12 male: 85.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 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: 56.55 years country comparison to the world: 197 male: 54.08 years female: 59.11 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 35.1% male: 46.9% female: 24.4% (2004 est.)

Major cities - population

FREETOWN (capital) 875,000 (2009)

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 water contact disease: schistosomiasis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 3

Median age

total: 19.1 years male: 18.6 years female: 19.6 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean

Net migration rate

-3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 188 note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.016 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

5,485,998 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Population growth rate

2.277% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 24% of population rural: 6% of population total: 13% of population unimproved: urban: 76% of population rural: 94% of population total: 87% of population

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 under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.9 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 5.2% country comparison to the world: 122 male: 7.3% female: 3.5% (2004)

Urbanization

urban population: 38% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.3% 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,046 (Liberia) (2011)

Airports

8 (2012) country comparison to the world: 161

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2012)

Heliports

2 (2012)

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: 132 paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways

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