Map of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a country in Africa with its capital at Freetown, home to about 8.82 million people across 71,740 km². The interactive map below plots 5 cities and towns, 1 rivers, 1 mountain summits and 3 ports recorded for Sierra Leone in YearMaps.
- Population
- 8.82 million
- Area
- 71,740 km²
- Capital
- Freetown
- Continent
- Africa
Interactive Map of Sierra Leone
Centred on Freetown at 8.4720° N, 13.2362° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the west coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is 73,252 km2 (28,283 sq mi). It has a tropical climate and environments ranging from savannahs to rainforests. As of the 2023 census, Sierra Leone had a population of 8,460,512. Freetown is its capital and largest city.
Sierra Leone is a presidential republic, with a unicameral parliament and a directly elected president. It is a secular state. Its constitution provides for the separation of state and religion and freedom of conscience. Muslims constitute three-quarters of the population, and there is a significant Christian minority. Religious tolerance is very high.
Sierra Leone's current territorial configuration was established in two phases: in 1808, the coastal Sierra Leone Colony was founded as part of the British Empire, to be a place to resettle returning Africans after the abolition of the slave trade; then in 1896, the inland Protectorate was created as a result of the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885. This led to the formal recognition of the territory as the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate. Sierra Leone attained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). In 1971, under Prime Minister Siaka Stevens of the All People's Congress (APC), the country adopted a new constitution, transforming Sierra Leone into a presidential republic, with Stevens as the inaugural president.
In 1978, Stevens declared the APC to be the sole legally recognised party. In 1985, he was succeeded by Joseph Saidu Momoh. Momoh's enactment of a new constitution in 1991 reintroduced a multi-party system. That same year, a protracted civil war broke out between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel group. The conflict, characterised by multiple coups d'état, persisted for 11 years. Intervention by ECOMOG forces and later by the United Kingdom resulted in the defeat of the RUF in 2002, ushering in a period of relative stability.
Sierra Leone is a culturally diverse country, home to approximately 18 ethnic groups, with the Temne and Mende peoples being predominant. The Creole people, descendants of freed African-American, Afro-Caribbean slaves and liberated Africans, constitute about 1.2% of the population. English is the official language, while Krio is the lingua franca, spoken by 97% of the population.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Sierra Leone (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Sierra Leone
Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland. In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results. In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system.
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia.
- Climate
- Tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
- Terrain
- Coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east.
- Highest point
- Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m.
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 402 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,093 km; border countries: Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km.
- Natural resources
- Diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.); arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.); forest: 34.3% (2023 est.); other: 11% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms.
- Geographic note
- Rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 in) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal western Africa.
- 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; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
- Religions
- Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Temne 35.4%, Mende 30.8%, Limba 8.8%, Kono 4.3%, Korankoh 4%, Fullah 3.8%, Mandingo 2.8%, Loko 2%, Sherbro 1.9%, 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 5% (2019 est.)
- Economy
- Low-income West African economy; primarily subsistent agriculture; key iron and diamond mining activities suspended; slow recovery from 1990s civil war; systemic corruption; high-risk debt; high youth unemployment; natural resource rich.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Sierra Leone in Numbers
- Population
- 8.82 million
- GDP
- US$7.5 billion
- GDP per person
- US$846
- Life expectancy
- 62.0 years
- Population growth
- 2.04% a year
- Population density
- 120 per km²
- Urban population
- 45.9%
- Surface area
- 72,300 km²
- Forest cover
- 34.0%
- Arable land
- 21.9%
- Access to electricity
- 39.2%
- Internet users
- 25.1%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Sierra Leone in Depth
History
Sierra Leone's history is marked by continuous human habitation for at least 2,500 years, influenced by migrations from across Africa. Iron technology had been adopted by the 9th century and agriculture established by 1000 AD along the coast. Climate shifts over centuries altered the ecological zones, influencing migration and conquest dynamics.
The region's dense tropical rainforest and swamps, coupled with the presence of the tsetse fly which carried a disease fatal to horses and the zebu cattle used by the Mandé people, provided natural defences against invasions by the Mandinka Empire and other African empires, and limited influence by the Mali Empire.
Geography
Sierra Leone is on the southwest coast of West Africa, mostly between latitudes 7° and 10°N (a small area is south of 7°), and longitudes 10° and 14°W. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. It has an area of 73,252 km2 (28,283 sq mi), divided into a land area of 73,132 km2 (28,236 sq mi) and water of 120 km2 (46 sq mi).
In eastern Sierra Leone the plateau is interspersed with high mountains, where Mount Bintumani reaches 1,948 m (6,391 ft), the highest point in the country. The upper part of the drainage basin of the Moa River is in the south of this region.
The centre of the country is a region of lowland plains, containing forests, bush and farmland, that occupies about 43% of Sierra Leone's land area.
Economy
By the 1990s, economic activity was declining and economic infrastructure had become seriously degraded. Over the next decade, much of the formal economy was destroyed in the country's civil war. Since the end of hostilities in 2002, massive infusions of outside assistance have helped Sierra Leone recover.
Much of the recovery depends on the success of the government's efforts to limit corruption by officials, which many feel was the chief cause of the civil war. A key indicator of success is the effectiveness of government management of its diamond sector.
There is high unemployment, particularly among the youth and ex-combatants.
Demographics
In 2019 Sierra Leone had a population of 7,813,215 and a growth rate of 2.216% a year. The population is mostly young, with an estimated 41.7% under 15, and rural, with an estimated 62% of people living outside the cities. As a result of migration to cities, the population is becoming more urban with an estimated rate of urbanisation growth of 2.9% a year.
Population density varies greatly within Sierra Leone. The Western Area Urban District, including Freetown, the capital and largest city, has a population density of 1,224 persons per square km. The largest district geographically, Koinadugu, has a much lower density of 21.4 persons per square km.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sierra Leone (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sierra Leone: Key Facts
| Currency | leone |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Krio |
| Head of state | Julius Maada Bio |
| Head of government | David Sengeh |
| Form of government | presidential system |
| Calling code | +232 |
| Internet domain | .sl |
| Highest point | Mount Bintumani |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean |
| Established | 19 April 1971 |
Facts from Wikidata Q1044 (CC0).
History of Sierra Leone: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Sierra Leone, from Freetown Colony in 1788 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Freetown Colony | 1788–1796 CE | A small part |
| The British Empire | 1788–1960 CE | Nearly all |
| British Cape Colony | 1797–1884 CE | Nearly all |
| British Africa | 1885–1960 CE | Nearly all |
| Sierra Leone | 1961–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is on the West Coast of Africa. The potential for tourism is vast, but largely unrealised, despite the end of the Civil War in 2002, and tour operators are looking closely at what the country has to offer. Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources. It has some of the best beaches in the world, a rich heritage, and some stunning scenery, but its greatest asset is its welcoming, friendly populace.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Sierra Leone (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Sierra Leone
5 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freetown | 827,000 | Western | National capital |
| 2 | Bo | 174,354 | Southern | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Kenema | 143,137 | Eastern | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Makeni | 87,679 | Northern | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Koidu | 87,539 | Eastern | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Sierra Leone
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loma Mansa | 1,945 m | 6,381 ft | Africa |
Loma Mansa
Mountain · 1,945 m
Loma Mansa is a mountain rising to 1,945 metres (6,381 ft) in Sierra Leone, in the Africa region.
Mount Bintumani (also known as Loma Mansa) is the highest peak in Sierra Leone and the Loma Mountains, at 1,945 metres (6,381 ft). It lies in the Loma Mountains and its lower slopes are covered in rainforests, home to a wide variety of animals. These include pygmy hippopotamuses, dwarf crocodiles, rufous fishing-owls and numerous primates.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Bintumani (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,945 m (6,381 ft)
- Global rank
- #426 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Africa (#65)
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Coordinates
- 9.2427°, -11.0885°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Loma Mansa ranks #426 by elevation, below Halla-san (1,950 m) and above Shengtang Shan (1,935 m).
- Ranges:
- Loma Mountains (Africa), Guinea Highlands (Africa)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Mount Wuteve (1,380 m), Mount Richard-Molard (1,752 m), Téna Kourou (747 m)
- Settlements below:
- Koidu (93 km), Kissidougou (106 km), Makeni (113 km)
More about Loma Mansa
Loma Mansa: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,665 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Loma Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q769525 (CC0).
Rivers in Sierra Leone
1 river recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Rokel | River | — |
Ports in Sierra Leone
3 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sierra Leone
1 World Heritage Site recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gola-Tiwai complex | 2025 | Natural | (ix) (x) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Sierra Leone
2 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Africa | 29.41M km² | Continent | Africa |
| 2 | Loma Mountains | 23,521 km² | Range/mtn | Africa |
Loma Mountains
Range/mtn · 23,521 km²
Loma Mountains is a range/mtn in Africa, covering an estimated 23,521 km². It extends across Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The Loma Mountains are the highest mountain range in Sierra Leone. The highest peak is Mount Bintumani which rises to a height of 1,945 metres (6,381 ft). The area has been designated a non-hunting forest reserve since 1952. The reserve covers an area of 33,201 hectares.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Loma Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Range/mtn
- Mapped extent
- 23,521 km²
- Size rank
- #119 of 216 mountain ranges
- Region
- Africa
- Countries
- Sierra Leone, Guinea
- Coordinates
- 8.7755°, -11.1510°
- Summits:
- Loma Mansa (1,945 m)
- Adjacent ranges:
- Guinea Highlands (Africa), Anti Atlas (Africa)
More about Loma Mountains
Loma Mountains: Key Facts
| Area | 330 km² |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Mount Bintumani |
Facts from Wikidata Q1868712 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Sierra Leone
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Africa
Sierra Leone: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
- The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown.
- What is the population of Sierra Leone?
- Sierra Leone has a population of about 8.82 million, the #101 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Sierra Leone?
- Sierra Leone covers 71,740 km², ranking #121 by area, with about 123 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Sierra Leone in?
- Sierra Leone is in Africa.
- Which countries border Sierra Leone?
- Sierra Leone shares a land or maritime border with Guinea, Liberia.
- What is the largest city in Sierra Leone?
- Freetown is the largest city in Sierra Leone, with a metropolitan population of about 827,000.
- What is the highest mountain in Sierra Leone?
- The highest summit recorded for Sierra Leone in YearMaps is Loma Mansa at 1,945 m (6,381 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.