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Sierra Leone: key facts and figures
Sierra Leone has 8.6 million people, English as an official language, the Sierra Leonean Leone and 13 public holidays a year. It ranks 162nd of 168 countries for adjusted for inequality.
8.6 millionpeople
SLEcurrency
Englishofficial language
+232calling code
Rightdriving side
Every figure shows how Sierra Leone differs
Population and Demographics
how many people live there, and how that is changing
8.6 millionPopulation
- Annual change+2.15%
- Fertility rate3.7 per woman#36
- Aged 65 and over3.24%#162
Economy
the size of the economy and how fast it is growing
$846Output per person
- Total economy$7.5 billion#156
- Real growth+4.6%#52
- Inflation7.5%#37
Human Development
health, schooling and income combined into one index
0.467Human Development Index
- Adjusted for inequality0.281#162
- Life expectancy61.8 years#181
- Mean schooling3.5 years#182
Currency
what money is used and its official code
Sierra Leonean LeoneCurrency
- ISO 4217 codeSLE
- SymbolSLE
- CapitalFreetown
Languages
which languages hold official status
EnglishOfficial languages
- Text directionLeft to right
Practical Country Info
plugs, voltage, driving side and dialling
Type GPlug types
- Mains voltage230 V
- Driving sideRight
- Calling code+232
- Time zoneAfrica/Freetown
Public Holidays
official days off through the year
13Public holidays in 2026
- Jan 1New Year's Day
- Feb 18Armed Forces Day
- Mar 8International Women's Day
Digital Adoption
how many people are online and how digital the state is
25.1%Internet use
- E-government index0.304#172
- Global rank#172
- E-government groupMiddle
Geography and Environment
terrain, climate and physical setting
Coastal countryPhysical setting
- Highest pointEastern mountains
- ClimateSierra Leone has a tropical monsoon climate with a pronounced wet season and dry season.
Education
how the school system is structured
3,450,104Pupils
- Schools13,444
- Approved schools11,180
- Supported public schools8,140
Nearby in the index
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About this profile
Every figure on this page is a summary of a fuller page, and each links to it. Sources, data years and methodology notes sit on those pages rather than here. Where a subject carries no published figure for Sierra Leone, it is left off this profile rather than shown as empty.