The Republic of Sierra Leone gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961. The country is located on the west coast of Africa, and borders Guinea and Liberia. Its totally area is 71,740 square kilometers, which makes it slightly smaller than South Carolina. Sierra Leone is a constitutional democracy with an executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch consisting of a unicameral parliament.


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General Information
Official Name: 
Republic of Sierra Leone
Capitol: 
Freetown
Population: 
6,232,000
Languages: 
English
Geographic Region: 
Africa
Western Africa
Geographic Size (km sq): 
71,740
Year of UN Membership: 
1961
Year of Present State Formation: 
1961
Current UN Representative: 
Vandi Chidi Minah
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Sierra Leone
BBC Country Profile: Sierra Leone
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Sierra Leone
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Sierra Leone
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Sierra Leone
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Sierra Leone
National Geographic Country Profile: Sierra Leone
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Sierra Leone
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$5.694 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$1,746 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
13.30 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.37
Gini Index (Income Inequality): 
35.40
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Least Developed Country
History
BBC Timeline of Sierra Leone 1787-Present
Princeton University History of Sierra Leone
Embassy of the United States, Freetown Sierra Leone Background
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
African Group
Islamic Group
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB: African Development Bank
AU: African Union
Commonwealth of Nations (British)
ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States
EITI: Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation
OIC: Organization of Islamic Cooperation
WCO: World Customs Organization
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Current UN Peacekeeping Missions: 
MINUSMA: Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali
UNIFIL: UN Interim Force in Lebanon
UNISFA: UN Interim Security Force for Abyei
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Sierra Leone Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Sierra Leone Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Sierra Leone Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Sierra Leone Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) least developed country profiles: Sierra Leone
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) least developed country profiles: Sierra Leone
UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DESA) least developed country profiles: Sierra Leone
UN AIDS: Sierra Leone HIV Report
UNESCO Country Profile: Sierra Leone
UNDP in Sierra Leone
World Health Organization: Sierra Leone
UNICEF at a glance: Sierra Leone
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Sierra Leone
The Guardian World News Stories: Sierra Leone
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Sierra Leone
The Economist Topics Index: Sierra Leone
World News Report: Sierra Leone
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Sierra Leone
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Sierra Leone
Government Sources
State House: The Republic of Sierra Leone
Bank of Sierra Leone
Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
245 East 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 688-1656
(212) 688-4924
sierraleone@un.int

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