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Sierra Leone
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Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Freetown Sierra Leone Physical features of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone: Ethnic composition Sierra Leone: Religious affiliation Sierra Leone: Urban-rural Sierra Leone: Age breakdown
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Sierra Leone summary
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Sierra Leone: Facts & Stats

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News •

A Canadian woman spoke ill of Sierra Leone's president. Now, she's languishing in prison • Feb. 20, 2025, 5:46 AM ET (CBC)
Canadian arrested on live TV in Sierra Leone • Feb. 18, 2025, 10:23 AM ET (CBC)
Revealed: fugitive Dutch drug lord has been in Sierra Leone for at least two years • Feb. 14, 2025, 6:15 AM ET (The Guardian)
Fears grow for health of social media influencer arrested on live TV in Sierra Leone • Feb. 10, 2025, 4:18 AM ET (The Guardian)
79 countries slam Trump’s International Criminal Court sanctions • Feb. 8, 2025, 1:18 AM ET (DutchNews.nl)

Facts

Head Of State And Government President: Julius Maada Bio
Capital Freetown
Population (2025 est.) 7,833,000
Form Of Government republic with one legislative house (Parliament [1461])
Official Language English
Official Religion none
Official Name Republic of Sierra Leone
Total Area (Sq Km) 72,929
Total Area (Sq Mi) 28,158
Monetary Unit leone (Le)
Population Rank (2023) 102
Population Projection 2030 9,528,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2025) 278.2
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2025) 107.4
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 44.8% • Rural: (2024) 55.2%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2022) 57.2 years • Female: (2022) 60.4 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate Male: (2021) 55% • Female: (2021) 40%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2023) 4,922
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2023) 560
1Includes 14 paramount chiefs elected to represent each of the provincial districts.

Photos

Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Physical features of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Diamonds-for-weapons trade in Africa
Principal kingdoms and peoples of western Africa, 17th–19th century
Bunce Island, Sierra Leone
British West Africa
National anthem of Sierra Leone
See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Sir Milton Margai
prime minister of Sierra Leone
Davidson Nicol
Sierra Leonean physician and writer
Amanda Smith
American religious leader
Lever #3, painted ponderosa pine by Martin Puryear, 1989; in the McKee Gallery, New York City. 8412 × 162 × 13 inches.
Martin Puryear
American sculptor
Siaka Stevens
president of Sierra Leone
Sir Albert Margai
prime minister of Sierra Leone

Related Places

Magburaka
Sierra Leone
Yengema
Sierra Leone
A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.
Africa
continent
western Africa
western Africa
region, Africa
Freetown
Freetown
national capital, Sierra Leone
alluvial diamond mining
Kenema
Sierra Leone
Bo
Sierra Leone
Bonthe
Sierra Leone
Pepel
Sierra Leone
Lunsar
Sierra Leone
Koidu–New Sembehun
Sierra Leone
Makeni
Sierra Leone
Sewa River
river, Sierra Leone
Sherbro Island
island, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone River
river, Sierra Leone

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