factbook.json/africa/sl.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland.</p> <p>In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results.  In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "8 30 N, 11 30 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "71,740 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "71,620 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "120 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than South Carolina"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,093 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "402 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "279 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "56.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 23.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 30.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "37.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "6.3% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "300 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated as shown on this population distribution map"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9,121,049"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "4,515,726"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "4,605,323 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Sierra Leonean(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Sierra Leonean"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Sierra Leone’s youthful and growing population is driven by its high total fertility rate (TFR) of almost 4 children per woman as of 2022, which has declined little over the last two decades. Its elevated TFR is sustained by the continued desire for large families, the low level of contraceptive use, and the early start of childbearing. Despite its high TFR, Sierra Leone’s population growth is somewhat tempered by high infant, child, and maternal mortality rates that are among the world’s highest and are a result of poverty, a lack of potable water and sanitation, poor nutrition, limited access to quality health care services, and the prevalence of female genital cutting.</p> <p>Sierra Leone’s large youth cohort – about 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – continues to struggle with high levels of unemployment, which was one of the major causes of the country’s 1991-2002 civil war and remains a threat to stability today. Its estimated 60% youth unemployment rate is attributed to high levels of illiteracy and unskilled labor, a lack of private sector jobs, and low pay.</p> <p>Sierra Leone has been a source of and destination for refugees. Sierra Leone’s civil war internally displaced as many as 2 million people, or almost half the population, and forced almost another half million to seek refuge in neighboring countries (370,000 Sierra Leoneans fled to Guinea and 120,000 to Liberia). The UNHCR has helped almost 180,000 Sierra Leoneans to return home, while more than 90,000 others have repatriated on their own. Of the more than 65,000 Liberians who took refuge in Sierra Leone during their country’s civil war (1989-2003), about 50,000 have been voluntarily repatriated by the UNHCR and others have returned home independently.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "40.1% (male 1,843,606/female 1,812,304)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "57.4% (male 2,557,715/female 2,675,418)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "2.5% (2024 est.) (male 114,405/female 117,601)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "74"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "68.5"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "5.5"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "18.3 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19.4 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "19 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "19.9 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "2.32% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "30.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated as shown on this population distribution map"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "44.3% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "19.6 years (2019 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "443 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "71.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "76 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "66.2 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "59.4 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "57.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "61 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "3.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.78 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "21.2% (2019)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 92.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 58% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 72.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 7.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 42% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 27.2% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "8.8% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 79.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 35.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 54.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 20.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 64.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 45.6% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "8.7% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "20.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "6.4% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "12% (2021)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "58.9% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "8.6%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "29.6%"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "4.1% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "9.1% of GDP (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "48.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "56.3%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "41.3% (2022)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Environmental Modification"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "56.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 23.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 30.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "37.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "6.3% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "44.3% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Food insecurity": {
      "severe localized food insecurity": {
        "text": "<em>due to high food prices and reduced incomes - </em>according to the latest analysis, about 1.18 million people are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance between the June to August 2023 lean season; acute food insecurity is underpinned by elevated food prices, in part driven by a weak currency, and low purchasing power of vulnerable households (2023)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "6.92% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "39.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.09 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "3.16 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "610,222 tons (2004 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "110 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "160 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Sierra Leone"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Sierra Leone"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Sierra Leone"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Sierra Leone"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA named the country \"Serra Leoa\" (Lion Mountains) for the impressive mountains he saw while sailing the West African coast in 1462"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Freetown"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "8 29 N, 13 14 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "name derived from the fact that the original settlement served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans, as well as for liberated Africans rescued from slave ships"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western*"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "27 April 1961 (from the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 27 April (1961)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of English common law and customary law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in two successive readings and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms and many other constitutional sections also requires approval in a referendum with participation of at least one half of qualified voters and at least two thirds of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2016"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023) note - the president is chief of state, head of government, and Minister of Defense"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by 55% in the first round or absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 June 2023 (next to be held in June 2028)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br><em>2023: </em>Julius Maada BIO reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 56.2%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 41.2%, other 2.6%<br><em><br>2018: </em>Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Parliament"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "6/24/2023"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) (81); All People's Congress (APC) (54)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "29.5%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "June 2028"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 14 seats are reserved for \"paramount chiefs,\" who are indirectly elected to represent the 14 provincial districts"
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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 &ndash; the Judicature has jurisdiction in all civil, criminal, and constitutional matters"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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 are subject to approval by Parliament; all Judicature judges serve until retirement at age 65"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "All People's Congress or APC <br>Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Sheku MESALI (since 14 January 2025)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 939-9261"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 483-1793"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@embassyofsierraleone.net<br><br>https://embassyofsierraleone.net/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Bryan David HUNT (since 8 September 2023)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2160"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[232] 99 105 000"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>consularfreetown@state.gov<br><br>https://sl.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light 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)": {
      "text": "lion; national colors: green, white, blue"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free\""
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1961"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$25.671 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$24.284 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$23.059 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.71% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "5.31% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "4.1% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$3,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$2,900 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$2,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$6.412 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "47.64% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "27.21% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "11.87% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "29.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "26% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "42% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "87.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "5.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "19.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "-0.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "21.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-34.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruits, groundnuts, fruits, sugarcane (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "14.39% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "2.803 million (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "3.17% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "3.19% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "3.52% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "4.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "2.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "56.8% (2018 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018": {
        "text": "35.7 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "3.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "29.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "6.82% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "4.52% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "3.24% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$740 million (2019 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$867 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "63.9% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "15.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "-$320.42 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$156.702 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$395.465 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$1.304 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$1.195 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$1.114 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "China 54%, Belgium 12%, UAE 6%, Germany 4%, Netherlands 4% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, wood, aluminum ore (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$2.044 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$2.013 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$1.906 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "China 33%, India 12%, Turkey 9%, US 6%, UAE 5% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "rice, plastic products, refined petroleum, vaccines, packaged medicine (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$495.699 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$624.496 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$945.908 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$1.586 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "leones (SLL) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "21.305 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "14.048 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "10.439 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "9.83 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "9.01 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "29.4% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "55.3%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "5%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "138,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "122.083 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "76.158 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "3.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "90.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "2.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "imports": {
        "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "9,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "1.352 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "1.352 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "2.229 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "0 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "8.23 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "98 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the telecom sector has only gradually recovered from the destruction caused during the war years, and only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure, while the cable link to neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020; there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in the region; the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telecommunications companies continue to operate in difficult conditions; the telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of the international gateway and regular checks on QoS; the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to the MNOs withdrawing a number of cheap packages as a response; the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line less than 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 98 per 100 (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "<p>1 government-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; 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 </p> (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".sl"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "30% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2021 est.) less than 1"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "50,193 (2015)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "0 (2015) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "9L"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "8 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "3 (2024)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11,701 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "1,051 km"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "10,650 km (2015)"
      },
      "urban": {
        "text": "3,000 km (2015)"
      },
      "non-urban": {
        "text": "8,700 km (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "800 km (2011) (600 km navigable year-round)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "584 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 33, container ship 8, general cargo 320, oil tanker 97, other 126"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "3 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Land Forces, Maritime Forces, Air Wing<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: Sierra Leone Police (2024)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 8,500 personnel, mostly ground forces&nbsp; (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the RSLAF has a small inventory that includes a mix of Soviet-origin and other older foreign-supplied equipment; in recent years, it has received limited amounts of newer equipment, mostly as donations (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-30 for voluntary military service for men and women (25-40 for specialists); no conscription (2023)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the RSLAF’s principle responsibilities are securing the borders and the country’s territorial waters, supporting civil authorities during emergencies and reconstruction efforts, and participating in peacekeeping missions; it is small, lightly armed, and has a limited budget; since being reduced in size and restructured with British assistance after the end of the civil war in 2002, it has received assistance from several foreign militaries, including those of Canada, China, France, the UK, and the US; the RSLAF has participated in peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Sudan<br><br>the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and The Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Wars (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "IDPs": {
        "text": "IDPs: 3000 currently displaced due to post-electoral violence in 2018 and clashes in the Pujehun region in 2019); 900 internal displacements due to flood in 2022 (2022)<br><br>5,500 (displacement caused by post-electoral violence in 2018 and clashes in the Pujehun region in 2019) (2021)"
      }
    }
  }
}