Sierra Leone
Visited
At a glance
- Region
- Western Africa
- Capital
- Freetown
- Population
- 8.6 million (2024)
- Area
- 71,740 km²
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Sierra Leonean leone (SLL)
- Drives on the
- right
- Calling code
- +232
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Before you go
Overview
Sierra Leone is located in western Africa. The capital city is Freetown. It is a port city and is the country’s major education, political, cultural, financial and economic centre.
Freetown has beaches and it is popular for its historical role during the transatlantic slave trade. After the abolition of the slave trade by the British in 1807, many freed slaves from Britain and North America resettled at the land. The old town has an old Cotton Tree which symbolizes liberation. There’s also a King’s Yard Gate at the seashore where slaves walked through to freedom. Its National Museum showcases various objects relating to the colonial military leader Bai Bureh.
The country was named by Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra who was the first to see the harbour in 1662. The British later came in and abolished slave trade and also built settlements for the rescued slaves in 1787.
The country’s capital, Freetown.
The country gained independence in 1961. It was then declared a republic on 19th April 1971 after which Siaka Stevens became the president.
Between 2014 and 2016, the country was affected by the Ebola disease which killed more than 11,000 people.
It has a population of 7.813 million with an area of 71,740km2.
The national language is English.
The country’s education system comprises of six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary, and three years of senior secondary or vocational education and four years of university level.
The major religion is Islam.
The most popular sport is football followed by athletics, basketball, boxing and cricket.
It has a tropical climate. The backbone of the economy is agriculture. The major cash crops are cocoa, coffee, oil palm and cashew nuts while the major stable foods are rice and cassava. There is also a mining industry which produces diamonds, gold, bauxite and rutile as one of the largest rutile deposits in the world.
Sierra Leone is bordered to the north and east by Guinea, to the south by Liberia and the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
History
Freetown was founded in 1792 as a settlement for freed slaves. Sierra Leone became independent in 1961 and suffered a civil war from 1991 to 2002.
Food & culture
Cassava-leaf stew, groundnut soup and jollof rice are popular dishes.
Wildlife
Tiwai Island is home to pygmy hippos and primates, and Tacugama Sanctuary rescues chimpanzees.
Festivals & events
Independence Day is 27 April.
Things to see
The beaches of the Freetown Peninsula, Banana Islands, Tiwai Island and Bunce Island.
Interesting facts
Freetown has one of the largest natural harbours in the world.
