Sierra Leone Country Insight

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Key Facts

GDP (ppp) per CAPITA: $700 (2008 est.)
Inflation Rate: 11.7% (2007 est.)
Population: 6,440,053 (July 2009 est.)
Country Risk Ratings: D
Ease of Doing Business: 156/181

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Sierra Leone : Introduction

Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007 presidential election, but still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.

Capital City: Freetown (GMT)

Currency: Leone (SLL) (convert)

Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Calling Code: 232

Voltage: 230

Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%

quick links

Sierra Leone: World Bank Doing Business Indicators
Sierra Leone: BBC Country Profile
Sierra Leone: MSU Global Access

Sierra Leone: Bank of Sierra Leone: The Bank of Sierra Leon serves as the central bank of the country and is responsible for monetary stability, issuance of notes and implementation of policy. The website provides history, structural information, statistics, annual reports, and financial regulations as well as information on debt instruments.

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture: An autonomous and non-profit organization “set up to protect and develop the interest of the business community with the overall objective of enhancing the economic development Sierra Leone.” It has a “Trade Information Center” which contains a library with reference books, directories, trade journals, products catalogues and government publications. The site also offers a business directory of the country.

Sierra Leone: Statistics Sierra Leone: This is the official statistics site of Sierra Leone, it has current statistical indicators, population and housing census, GDP trends, and relevant statistical publications.

Sources:
CIA World Factbook (September 2009)
U.S. Dept. of State Country Background Notes (October 2009)