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
Sierra Leone
Summary
Sierra Leone is a republic[1]. It draws 6,544 Wikipedia views per month (republic category, ranking #10 of 32).[2]
Key Facts
- Sierra Leone is credited with the discovery of Pedro de Sintra[3].
- Sierra Leone was a member of United Nations[4].
- Sierra Leone was a member of Commonwealth of Nations[5].
- Sierra Leone was a member of African Union[6].
- Sierra Leone was a member of World Trade Organization[7].
- Sierra Leone was a member of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[8].
- Sierra Leone was a member of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[9].
- Sierra Leone is in the country of Sierra Leone[10].
- Sierra Leone is on the body of water Atlantic Ocean[11].
- Sierra Leone's head of government is recorded as David Sengeh[12].
- Sierra Leone is on the continent of Africa[13].
- Sierra Leone's instance of is recorded as republic[14].
- Sierra Leone's instance of is recorded as sovereign state[15].
- Sierra Leone's instance of is recorded as country[16].
- Sierra Leone's head of state is recorded as Julius Maada Bio[17].
- Sierra Leone's capital is recorded as Freetown[18].
- Sierra Leone's official language is recorded as English[19].
- Sierra Leone's official language is recorded as Krio[20].
- Sierra Leone's currency is recorded as leone[21].
- Sierra Leone's shares border with is recorded as Guinea[22].
- Sierra Leone's shares border with is recorded as Liberia[23].
- Sierra Leone's top-level Internet domain is recorded as .sl[24].
- Sierra Leone's anthem is recorded as High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free[25].
- Sierra Leone's basic form of government is recorded as presidential system[26].
- Lion Mountains is named after Sierra Leone[27].
Body
Definition and Type
Recorded instance of include republic[14], sovereign state[15], and country[16].
Origins
Lion Mountains is named after Sierra Leone[27].
Influence
Things named for Sierra Leone include Star of it[28], a diamond[29].
Why It Matters
Sierra Leone draws 6,544 Wikipedia views per month (republic category, ranking #10 of 32).[2] It has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[30] It is known by 23 alternative names across languages and contexts.[31]
Entities named for it include Star of it[28], a diamond[29].