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Sierra Leone

Western Africa SLE

SL · SLE · #117 · 5 cities

Nomad score 40/100 Compare

Key demographics

Population
8.5M
Density
105.3/km²
HDI
0.467 (Low)
Gini index (2018)
35.7
Life expectancy (2024)
62.0 yrs
Fertility rate (2024)
3.70
Urban population (2025)
45.9%
Literacy rate (2019)
43.6%
Labor force (2025)
54.6%
Gender wage gap (2018)
13.3%
Sources: REST Countries v4, World Bank, OWID

Population structure

0-14 youth (%) 37.7
15-64 working (%) 59.1
65+ elderly (%) 3.3
Dependency ratio
69.3%
Profile
Very Young
Urban population (2025)
45.9%
Birth rate (2024)
30.1 /1000
Death rate (2024)
8.2 /1000
Largest city (2025)
34.3%
Fertility rate (2024)
3.70
Infant mortality (2024)
54.6 /1000
Slum population (2022)
49.3%
Tourism (2019)
71.0K
Source: World Bank

Languages and culture

Languages
LanguageNative name
EnglishEnglish
Religions
ReligionPercentage
Islam 78.0%
Christianity 21.0%
Other 1.0%
Ethnicities
EthnicityPercentage
Temne 35.5%
Mende 33.2%
Limba 6.4%
Kono 4.4%
Fula 3.4%
Susu 2.9%
Loko 2.9%
Koranko 2.8%
Sherbro 2.6%
Mandingo 2.4%
Krio 1.3%
Demonym (male)
Sierra Leonean
Demonym (female)
Sierra Leonean
National anthem
High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free

Healthcare

Life expectancy (2024)
62.0 yrs
HALE (2021)
53.1 yrs
Health spending (2023)
4.7% of GDP
Infant mortality (2024)
54.6/1000
UHC index (2023)
48/100
Hospital beds (2006)
0.4/1000
Physicians (2022)
0.13/1000
Nurses (2022)
1.16/1000
Health spending per capita (2023)
$36
Out-of-pocket (2023)
54.5%
Source: World Bank, WHO

Education and technology

Literacy rate (2019)
43.6%
Education spending (2023)
2.6% of GDP
Learning outcomes (2020)
316
Internet users (2024)
25.1%
Mobile subscriptions (2022)
107.9/100
Broadband (2021)
0.0/100
Secure servers (2024)
11/1M
Source: World Bank, OWID

Broadband connectivity

Broadband per 100 (2021)
0.0
Source: ITU / World Bank via OWID. Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people.

Geography and practical

Area
71,740 km²
Capital
Freetown
Continent
Africa
Region
Africa
Subregion
Western Africa
Landlocked
No
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC
Calling codes
+232
TLD
.sl
Maps
Google Maps · OpenStreetMap
Borders
GN Guinea LR Liberia

National symbols

Coat of Arms of Sierra Leone
Flag
The flag of Sierra Leone is composed of three equal horizontal bands of green, white and blue.
National anthem
High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free

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