World Country Guide

General Information

Area
71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles).

Population
4,764,000 (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density
66.4 per sq km.

Capital
Freetown. Population: 837,000 (UN estimate 2001).

Geography
Sierra Leone is bordered to the northwest, north and northeast by Guinea Republic, and to the southeast by Liberia. To the south and southwest lies the Atlantic Ocean. A flat plain up to 110km (70 miles) wide stretches the length of the coast except for the Freetown peninsula, where the Sierra Lyoa Mountains rise to 1000m (3280ft). In some coastal areas, sand bars have formed that stretch out as far as 112km (70 miles). Behind the coastal plain is the central forested area, drained by eight principal rivers, which has been cleared for agriculture. The land rises in altitude eastwards to the Guinea Highlands, a high plateau with peaks rising to over 1830m (6000ft) in the Loma Mountains and Tingi Hills area. The Mende tribe is prominent in the southeast and the Temne in the western and northern areas.

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1961. Head of State and Government: President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah since 1996.

Language
The official language is English. Krio is also widely spoken. Local dialects are Mende, Limba and Temne.

Religion
Animist (40 per cent), Islam (40 per cent) and Christian (20 per cent).

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Supply subject to fluctuations.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 232. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900/1800 networks available. Operators include Celtel (SL) Limited (website: www.msicellular.com), Comium (website: www.comium.com), Lintel (Sierra Leone) Limited and Millicom SL (website: www.buzzsl.com). Coverage limited to Freetown and environs.

Fax
Facilities are available at SierraTel offices.

Internet
ISPs include SierraTel Internet. Public access outlets are increasingly popping up, especially in Freetown where access is also available through the British Council.

Telegram
Facilities at Slecom House, 7 Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes about five days.

Press
Sierra Leone’s English-language daily is the Daily Mail. Other newspapers are The New shaft, Progress and The Vision.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.