Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 71,740 sq km
country comparison to the world: 119
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
402 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 15.33%
permanent crops: 1.88%
other: 82.79% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
293.6 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
160 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.21 cu km/yr (52%/26%/22%)
per capita: 38.74 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5,612,685 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,169,343/female 1,181,669)
15-24 years: 19% (male 517,107/female 549,500)
25-54 years: 31.4% (male 847,115/female 914,650)
55-64 years: 4% (male 101,069/female 124,673)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 89,643/female 117,916) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 79.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 74.5 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 %
potential support ratio: 20.9 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 19.6 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
37.77 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.26 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 184
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2013 est.)
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 39.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
FREETOWN (capital) 875,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19 (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 4
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 74.95 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 83.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 56.98 years
country comparison to the world: 199
male: 54.47 years
female: 59.56 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.87 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11% (2010)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 2
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2006)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
49,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 144
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 125
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 43.3%
male: 54.7%
female: 32.6% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12 years
male: 13 years
female: 11 years (2007)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 573,287
percentage: 48 % (2005 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
local short form: Sierra Leone
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 29 N, 13 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27 April 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest in effect 1 October 1991; amended several times, last in 2010; note - in mid-2013 a committee was formed to review the constitution (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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%, other 3.9%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court - at the apex - with the chief justice and 4 other judges, the Court of Appeal with the chief justice and 7 other judges, and the High Court of Justice with the chief justice and 9 other judges; note – the Judicature has jurisdiction in all civil, criminal, and constitutional matters
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and other judges of the Judicature appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (a 7-member independent body of judges, presidential appointees, and the Commission chairman) and subject to the approval of Parliament; all Judicature judges appointed until retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
other: student unions; trade unions
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS (since 28 March 2008)
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael S. OWEN (since 16 August 2010)
embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (76) 515 000 or (76) 515 000
FAX: [232] (76) 515 355
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lion
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"
lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA
note: adopted 1961
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 of these reserves, which could be significant, is still several years away, however, growth skyrocketed to more than 20% in 2012, as exploitation activities began.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.97 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.738 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 84.6%
government consumption: 9.5%
investment in fixed capital: 39.9%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 13.4%
imports of goods and services: -47.4%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 51.8%
industry: 15%
services: 33.2% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.207 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
70.2% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
62.9 (1989)
country comparison to the world: 4
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $576.9 million
expenditures: $773.5 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-5.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
36.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$324.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.152 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$429.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-862.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$953.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 51.1%, Belgium 18.2%, Japan 7.7%, Turkey 4.8% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.597 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 16.5%, India 10.2%, South Africa 7.6%, US 6.7%, UK 6.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2012)
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.172 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.719 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
leones (SLL) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
145 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
134.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
102,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
47.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
52.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.39 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 184
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,768 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9,373 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 191
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.492 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 190
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.21 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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) (2009)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.sl
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
282 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 191
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 164
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11,300 km
country comparison to the world: 131
paved: 904 km
unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
800 km (600 km navigable year round) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 72
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Maritime Wing and Air Wing) (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); women are eligible to serve; no conscription; candidates must be HIV negative (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,183,093 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 731,898
females age 16-49: 838,032 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 54,212
female: 57,154 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.72% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 348