Fact Sheet
FACT SHEET
SIERRA LEONE
|
Official Name |
Republic of Sierra Leone |
|
Capital |
Freetown |
|
Area |
71,740 sq. kms. |
|
Currency |
US$ 1 = Leone 22.82 (May 2026) |
|
GDP |
USD 8.64 billion (2025/IMF estimate) |
|
GDP growth rate |
4.4 % (2025/IMF) |
|
Inflation |
10.5 % (April 2026 -projected) |
|
Unemployment |
3.1% (2025/WB) |
|
Forest Cover |
34.6% (2022/WB) |
|
Population |
8.82 million (2025) |
|
Life expectancy |
62 years (2023) |
|
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 (18.16%), UAE (5.34 %), the United States (4.96%) and Türkiye (4.52%) |
|
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 – Dr. JULIUS MAADA BIO |
|
Head of Government |
President – Dr. JULIUS MAADA BIO |
|
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 aluminum. |
|
Indian Imports |
Bulk minerals and ores, Palm oil, Iron and steel, aluminum and products of aluminum, 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 7,000, primarily involved in trade and manufacturing. The India-Sierra Leone Business Council, Indian Mercantile Association, Sierra Leone Malayalee Association, Sierra Leone Sindhi Association, Sierra Leone Telugu Association and Sierra Leone Tamil 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 |
May 2026
