Sierra Leone 
Facts
Background: 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 one-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 presidential election, but still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - 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.
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Area land: 71,620 sq km
Area water: 120 sq km
Coastline: 402 km
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
Country name conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Country name former: Republic of Sierra Leone
Population: 5,363,669 (July 2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.8% (male 1,113,528/female 1,130,112); 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,401,907/female 1,522,335); 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 86,614/female 109,173) (2011 est.);
Population growth rate: 2.249% (2011 est.)
Birth rate: 38.46 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
Death rate: 11.73 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female; under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female; 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female; 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female; total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.);
Infant mortality rate: total: 78.38 deaths/1,000 live births; male: 87.2 deaths/1,000 live births; female: 69.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.);
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.13 years; male: 53.69 years; female: 58.65 years (2011 est.);
Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (2011 est.);
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.6% (2009 est.);
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (2009 est.);
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,800 (2009 est.);
Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s); adjective: Sierra Leonean;
Ethnic groups: 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);
Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%;
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%);
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic; total population: 35.1%; male: 46.9%; female: 24.4% (2004 est.);
GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.812 billion (2010 est.); $4.574 billion (2009 est.); $4.382 billion (2008 est.);
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.901 billion (2010 est.);
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (2010 est.); 4.4% (2009 est.); 5.5% (2008 est.);
GDP - per capita (PPP): $900 (2010 est.); $900 (2009 est.); $900 (2008 est.);
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49%; industry: 31%; services: 21% (2005 est.);
Population below poverty line: 70.2% (2004);
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%; highest 10%: 33.6% (2003);
Labor force: 2.207 million (2007 est.);
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA%; industry: NA%; services: NA%;
Unemployment rate: NA%;
Budget: revenues: $96 million; expenditures: $351 million (2000 est.);
Industries: diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair;
Industrial production growth rate: NA%;
Electricity - production: 80 million kWh (2007 est.);
Electricity - consumption: 74.4 million kWh (2007 est.);
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.);
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.);
Statistics: CIA World Factbook.
Press
(Independent, published in Somerset, NJ),
http://www.Cocorioko.net/
http://www.expotimesonline.net/
(Independent, published in Vancouver, Canada),
http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/
(Independent), Freetown
http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/
(Published in U.K.),
http://www.thesierraleonetelegraph.com/
Sierra Leone in the News
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Displaying 1 to 4 of 70 items.
One of the issues being debated in Sierra Leone, as the country undergoes a constitutional review, is whether to keep in place presidential term limits.
President Koroma has improved electricity supply, healthcare and roads in Sierra Leone, but the country's young people have not received the education or opportunities they need.
The struggle for equal opportunities for women in all aspects of Sierra Leone's socio-economic life is as crucial for our country's future as it is for women.
The only psychiatric hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is in deplorable condition and needs resources to make significant improvements.
