NAVIGATION
|
HOME
• FLAG FINDER
• MAP FINDER
• SOURCES
• ADD YOURSELF TO THE ATLAS! COUNTRIES A-D • COUNTRIES E-K • COUNTRIES L-R • COUNTRIES S-Z |
NAVIGATION
Republic of Sierra Leone
INTRODUCTION
|
Background:
|
Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the 11-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. |
GEOGRAPHY
|
Location:
|
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
8 30 N, 11 30 W |
|
Map references:
|
Africa |
|
Area:
|
total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly smaller than South Carolina |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km |
|
Coastline:
|
402 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
|
Climate:
|
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) |
|
Terrain:
|
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 6.76%
permanent crops: 0.78% other: 92.46% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
290 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
|
Geography - note:
|
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa |
PEOPLE
|
Population:
|
5,732,681 (July 2003 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,259,421; female 1,310,516)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,420,900; female 1,557,597) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 89,078; female 95,169) (2003 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.2 years female: 17.8 years (2002) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
2.94% (2003 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
43.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
20.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2003 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 146.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 128.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 164.23 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 42.84 years
male: 40.33 years female: 45.42 years (2003 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
5.86 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
7% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
170,000 (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
11,000 (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10% |
|
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
female: 18.2% (1995 est.) male: 45.4% total population: 31.4% |
|
People - note:
|
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa |