Sierra Leone flag
West Africa · Africa

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone
Capital
Freetown
Population
8.1M
Area
71,740 km²
Language
English

Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa, Africa. Its capital is Freetown, with a population of approximately 8.1M and a total area of 71,740 km². The official language is English and the currency is the Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL).

📊 Quick Facts about Sierra Leone

👥
Population
8.1M
total residents
📐
Total Area
71,740 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
113/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$4.1B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$506
per person
💱
Currency
Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
English
official
🌊
Coastline
402 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+0
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1961
established
🕐
Local Time in Freetown

Sierra Leone covers an area of 71,740 km² with a population density of 113/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $4.1B ($506 per capita) and gained independence in 1961. It has a coastline of 402 km.

Did You Know?

Sierra Leone's name means Lion Mountains in Portuguese, named by Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra in 1462. The country has some of West Africa's most beautiful beaches and was a major destination for freed slaves returning from America and Britain.

See all 36+ facts about Sierra Leone

✈️ Travel Information for Sierra Leone

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–April
Tropical, dry season November–April
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa required for most nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Sierra Leone travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Sierra Leone on the Map

Street-level photo from Freetown
📍 Freetown · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Sierra Leone World Rankings

1st
Diamonds
One of the world's largest diamond producers, the Blood Diamond trade originated here
1st
Natural Harbour
Freetown has one of the world's largest natural harbours
1st
Cotton Tree
The Cotton Tree in Freetown, symbol of freedom for freed slaves
1st
Beaches
Untouched beaches near Freetown rival the Caribbean

🏛 Must-See Places in Sierra Leone

🗺️ Countries Bordering Sierra Leone

Guinea
Guinea
Conakry
Liberia
Liberia
Monrovia

⚖️ Compare Sierra Leone with another country

See how Sierra Leone stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

Sierra LeonevsGuinea
Sierra Leone vs Guinea
Sierra LeonevsLiberia
Sierra Leone vs Liberia
Sierra LeonevsGhana
Sierra Leone vs Ghana
Sierra LeonevsNigeria
Sierra Leone vs Nigeria
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Sierra Leone

What is the capital of Sierra Leone?

The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown.

What continent is Sierra Leone in?

Sierra Leone is located in Africa, in the West Africa region.

What currency does Sierra Leone use?

Sierra Leone uses the Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL). The international calling code is +232.

What is the GDP of Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone has a GDP of $4.1B, with a GDP per capita of $506.

🌍 Explore More Countries in West Africa

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Ghana
Accra
Nigeria
Nigeria
Abuja
Senegal
Senegal
Dakar
Benin
Benin
Porto-Novo

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