Fact Sheet
FACT SHEET
SIERRA LEONE
|
Official Name |
Republic of Sierra Leone |
|
Capital |
Freetown |
|
Area |
71,740 sq. kms. |
|
Currency |
US$ 1 = Leone 22.86 approx. (July 2025/Bank Rate) |
|
GDP |
USD 7.8 billion (2024/IMF) |
|
GDP growth rate |
4.5 % (2024/IMF) |
|
Inflation |
18 % (2024/IMF) |
|
Unemployment |
3.2% (2023/WB) |
|
Forest Cover |
34.6% (2022/WB) |
|
Population |
8.83 million (2024/IMF) |
|
Life expectancy |
60 years (2023/WB) |
|
Languages |
English(official), Krio (an English-oriented creole), Mende, Temne and other local languages |
|
Ethnic groups |
Temne 35%, Mende 33%, Limba 6%, Kono 4%, Fullah 3%, Loko 2.9 %, Koranko 2.8%, Sherbo 2.6%, Mandingo 2.4%, Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late 18th century; also known as Krio), other Sierra Leone 4.7%, others 0.3% (includes refugees from Liberia’s civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Indians and Pakistanis), unspecified 0.2% (2013 estimates) |
|
Religion |
Muslim 60%, Christian 30%, Indigenous faith 10%. |
|
Exports |
USD 1.54 Billion (2024/WB) |
|
Imports |
USD 2.12 Billion (2024/WB) |
|
Major Export Partners |
China (67.5%), India (6.35%), Belgium (4.77%), the Netherlands (3.53 %) and Ireland (3.16%) [2023/OEC] |
|
Major Import Partners |
China (32.4%), India (14.5%), UAE (5.34 %), the United States (4.96%) and Turkiye (4.52%) [2023/OEC] |
|
FDI |
USD 201.8 mn (2023/WB) |
|
Net ODA receipts |
USD 523.46 mn (2022/WB) |
|
Political |
|
|
Political Structure |
Unitary Republic |
|
Major Political Parties |
Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) All People's Congress or APC People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) United Democratic Movement (UDM) |
|
Head of State |
President – BRIG (RTD.) Dr. JULIUS MAADA WONIE BIO |
|
Head of Government |
President – BRIG (RTD.) Dr. JULIUS MAADA WONIE BIO |
|
Political Issues |
Corruption, poor governance, weak institutions, poverty & environmental, health challenges. |
|
India’s Exports |
USD 385.47 mn [2024-25] |
|
India’s Imports |
USD 23.04 mn [2024-25] |
|
Indian Exports |
Pharmaceuticals, rice (other than Basmati), plastics, vehicles (two and three wheelers), industrial machinery, electrical machinery and goods, ceramic products, articles of iron and steel, and aluminium. |
|
Indian Imports |
Bulk minerals and ores, Palm oil, Iron and steel, aluminium and products of aluminium, copper and products made of copper. |
|
Indian Investments in Sierra Leone |
A number of PIOs/NRIs have established trading companies and small/medium industrial units mainly in the agro-processing and consumer durable sectors in the country. A Gujarat-based company, Odhav Group, has set up a scrap-iron based steel plant in Sierra Leone with an investment over US$ 40 million. Supreme Minerals of India has leased gold and bauxite mines in Sierra Leone. |
|
Indian Community |
The Indian community has grown to approximately 4,000, primarily involved in trade and manufacturing. The Indian Mercantile Association, Sierra Leone Malayalee Association, and Sierra Leone Sindhi Association represent the community. There are two religious sites: a Hindu temple managed by the Indian Mercantile Association and a Sikh Gurudwara run by the Jeety Group |
July 2025
