A few facts about Sierra Leone

Country Location
Republic of Sierra Leone – Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Coordinates
8 30 N, 11 30 W

Capital
Freetown

Intn’l Airport
Lungi International Airport

Geographical Area:
total 71,740 sq km slightly smaller than South Carolina
land 71,620 sq km
water 120 sq km

Coastline
402 km

Climate
tropical, hot, humid
summer rainy season (May to December )
winter dry season (January to April)

Terrain
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded forested hill country, upland plateau, white beach coastline

Elevations
lowest point – Atlantic Ocean 0m
highest point – Loma Mansa (Bintumani) 1,948m

Natural resources
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite, rutile, gas and oil currently under research

Land use
arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% other: 92%

Population
6,000,000 plus

Nationality
Sierra Leonean

Religions
Muslim 60% Indigenous beliefs 30% Christian 10%

Language
English (official), Mende (principally in the south) Temne (principally in the north), Krio (English based)

Government
Constitutional democracy

Executive Branch
Head of State: President Ernest Bai Koroma
Ministers: Appointed by President approved by House of Representatives

Judicial Branch
Supreme Court – Appeals Court – High Court

Independence
27 April 1961 (from UK)

National Holiday
Independence Day 27 April

Legal system
based upon English Law and customary indigenous Laws

Suffrage
18 years of age – universal

Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white (middle)
light blue (bottom)

Agriculture
Rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts, vegetables various, poultry, cattle, sheep

Industries
Mining of minerals, small scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, household products) petrol refining, ship repair

Electricity
Production – approx 255 million kWh
Consumption – approx 237 million kWh

Imports
Foodstuffs, machinery and related equipment, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, household goods, electrical goods

Currency
Leone (Le)

Universities
Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone – Est 1827
Njala University College – located at Njala, 200 miles from Freetown

UK: Quest House, 73 Balcombe Road, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9AB, England Tel: 01293 822 922
North America: 2400 Boston Street, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA Tel: (410) 705 8020