Reuters AlertNet Lite - Sierra Leone

PEOPLE

Language
English is the official language. Temne, Mende and Krio are also spoken. Krio serves as the commercial language in the capital.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	5.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	5.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	5.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	5.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	5.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	5.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	4.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	4.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	4.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
12.4 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
The Temne and Mende each account for almost one-third of the population. Lokko, Sherbro, Limba, Susso, Fulani, Kono and Krio are other important groups. The Krio are descendants of African slaves freed in the 19th century who settled in Freetown.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Most of the people practise traditional African religions. Nearly one-third are Muslims, who mainly live in the north. A Catholic minority is concentrated in the capital.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	42.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	41.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	40.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	39.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	39.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	38.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	37.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	37.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1961
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available

Percentage of population under 15

2005	42.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	42.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	42.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	44.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	44.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT

Climate description
Tropical

Currency
Leone

Telephone dialling code
(+) 232

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	41.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	41.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	40.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	34.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	34.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	38.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	40.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	39.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	39.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	33.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	33.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	37.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	43.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	42.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	42.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	35.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	35.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	155 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	159 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	165 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	165 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	166 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	165 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	182 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	180 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	262 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	270 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	282 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	283 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	284 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	284 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	316 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	316 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	42 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	2100 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	2000 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	177	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	176	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	176	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	177	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	175	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	173	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	30 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	30 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	27 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	27 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	47 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	51 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	50 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	53 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	57 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	57 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	57 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	11 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	39 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	39 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	66 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	35.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	29.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	36.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - male

2004	46.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	39.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - female

2004	24.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	20.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Landlines telephones

2008	No data available per 1,000 people
2007	No data available per 1,000 people
2006	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	181 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	143 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	158 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	150 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	142 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	126 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	114 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	113 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	No data available percent
1990-2004	No data available percent
1990-2003	57 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	57.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	260 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	230 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	210 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	200 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	200 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	190 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	160 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	140 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	1.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	7.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	7.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	7.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	9.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	27.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	18.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	10.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	11.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	12.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	15.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	8.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	-3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
43.6 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	3 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	3 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	9 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	9 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	1.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	1.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	1.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	1.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	1.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk due to P. falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	574 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	540 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	509 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	479 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	451 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	425 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	400 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	377 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	32536	UNHCR
2007	32127	UNHCR
2006	42863	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	40447	UNHCR
2004	41801	UNHCR
2003	70581	UNHCR
2002	141475	UNHCR
2001	179113	UNHCR
2000	402807	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	7826	UNHCR
2007	8795	UNHCR
2006	27365	UNHCR
2005	59965	UNHCR
2004	65437	UNHCR
2003	61194	UNHCR
2002	63494	UNHCR
2001	10501	UNHCR
2000	6546	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1998)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	No data available percent
2000-2002	3.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	No data available percent
1998-2000	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

NGO latest

Jobs