Country data

Location: West Africa

Time zone: CET – 1 (during summer time: CET – 2)

Total area: 71,740 km²

Land area: 71,620 km²

Water area: 120 km²

Length of the state border: 958 km

Bordering countries:
Guinea: 652 km
Liberia: 306 km

Coastline: 402 km

Capital: Freetown

Provinces: 4
Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western

Telephone code: 00 232 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Population

Population: approx. 5.7 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 2.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 79

Life expectancy: 55 (male), 60 (female)

Official language: English

Religions:

• 60% Muslim
• 10% Christians
• 30% other

Climate

The tropical humid weather lasts all year round. The climate is somewhat more pleasant near the coast, as the temperatures increase with distance from it.

The rainy season lasts from May to October with sometimes very heavy rains.

December to March is the best time to visit Sierra Leone.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Leone (SLL)

Classification: 1 leone = 100 cents

ATMs: not available

International credit cards: Very rarely accepted.

Regulations: The local currency can be imported and exported up to an amount of 50,000 leons, but this is not recommended. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is limited to the declared import. There is a strict declaration requirement.

When leaving the country, ALL import and exchange documents must be presented.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

You should have all valuable items declared in writing upon import in order to avoid problems when leaving the country.

Drugs and all kinds of intoxicants are not allowed. For urgently needed medication, you should have an English-language confirmation from your doctor with you.

Travel advice

All trips outside the capital are only possible with the prior approval of the local authorities.

The state of emergency still applies across the country.

Obstacles caused by roadside checks must always be expected.

Behavioral advice

As the range of goods is very limited and there are always delivery bottlenecks, we recommend that you bring all the goods you need for your stay.

Economy

Most of the population works in agriculture and grows ginger, coffee, cocoa, manioc and palm kernels.

Most foreign currencies are generated in mining and with the export of titanium ore.

Industries: mining, oil production, light industry

Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, chromium, diamonds, iron ore, gold, graphite, columbite, manganese, molybdenum, platinum, titanium ore

Land use:

• Usable land: 7%
• Grain cultivation: 1%
• Pasture area: 31%
• Forests: 28%
• other: 33%

Plants

Many northern areas consist of savannah land and are occasionally affected by floods.

To the south, the number of grasses, plants and forests increases.

Sierra Leone is a very riverside country.

Animals

The few wild animals still living in the wild include several species of monkeys and many small animals that live in the forests.