Country Summary
Introduction
Background
The British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown in the 17th century. The colony gradually expanded inland during the course of the 19th century. Independence was attained in 1961. Recovering from a long civil war, the government's stated priorities include free primary and secondary education, economic growth, accountable governance, health, and infrastructure.
Geography
Area
total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Natural resources
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
People and Society
Population
8,692,606 (2022 est.)
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.)
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%)
Religions
Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)
Population growth rate
2.49% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Freetown
Executive branch
chief of state: President Julius Maada BIO (since 4 April 2018); Vice President Mohamed Juldeh JALLOH (since 4 April 2018) ; note - the president is both chief of state, head of government, and minister of defense
head of government: President Julius Maada BIO (since 4 April 2018); Vice President Mohamed Juldeh JALLOH (since 4 April 2018)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament (146 seats; 132 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 14 seats filled in separate elections by non-partisan members of Parliament called "paramount chiefs;" members serve 5-year terms)
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$13.15 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$1,600 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
cassava, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruit, groundnuts, fruit, pulses nes
Industries
diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)
Exports
$740 million (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Belgium 26%, China 25%, Romania 9%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
titanium, lumber, diamonds, aluminum, cocoa beans (2019)
Imports
$1.82 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
China 27%, India 11%, United States 6%, Ghana 5%, Turkey 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
rice, plastics, packaged medicines, sauces/seasonings, cars (2019)
Exchange rates
leones (SLL) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Tuesday, July 26, 2022
