Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia. 

Population (2014 est) – 5,743,725
Area – 44,580mi
Capital – Freetown

Ethnic Background 

  • 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)

Exports – diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Imports – foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Life Expectancy (2014 est) – M 55, F 60
Infant Mortality (2014 est) – 73.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Adult Illiteracy Rate – 56.7%

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