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Sierra Leone |
Capital: Freetown
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, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Currency: leone (SLL)
Background: The government is slowly reestablishing its authority 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). Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, however, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds 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. The major source of hard currency is found in the mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled / taken out of the country.
PEOPLE
Population: 6,144,562 (July 2007 est.); 5,245,695 (July 2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 40.58 years
Male: 38.36 years
Female: 42.87 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 55.69 years
Male: 53.27 years
Female: 58.18 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,349,878/female 1,400,297)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,531,763/female 1,664,996)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 92,360/female 105,268) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 1,060,463/female 1,081,333)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,344,650/female 1,461,203)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 83,595/female 100,894) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.292% (2007 est.); 2.216% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: N/A
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 1.6% (2006 est.); 1.7% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 48,000 (2006 est.); 55,000 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 35.1%
Male: 46.9%
Female: 24.4% (2004 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 59,952 (Liberia) (2006)
Refugees (country of origin): 27,311 (Liberia) (2007)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries: diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Exports - Commodities: diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - Partners:
Belgium 51.7%, US 19%, Netherlands 6.7% (2006)
Belgium 26.56%, US 11.87%, Netherlands 7.91%, UK 7.4%, India 6.67%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.13%, Greece 4.05% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - Partners:
Cote d'Ivoire 9.7%, US 8.1%, China 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5.8%, South Africa 4.7%, India 4.6%, France 4.4% (2006)
South Africa 14.61%, China 7.58%, US 5.87%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.65%, India 5.19%, Malaysia 5.19%, France 5.08%, UK 4.48%, Netherlands 4.06% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment; over harvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; over fishing.
Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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