General |
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Official Name
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Republic of Sierra Leone
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Capital
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Freetown
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Area
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71,740 sq. kms.
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Currency
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US$ 1 = Leone 7380 (December 2017)
Rs. 1 = Leone 117
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GDP
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USD 3.641 Billion (Current) – WTO-2017)
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GDP Growth Rate
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6.1% (2016)
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Inflation
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18.4% (2017)
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Unemployment
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9.1% (2014)
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GDP Per Capita
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USD 537 (Nominal)(2015-2017-WTO)
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Forest Cover
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38.45%
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CO2 emissions
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- Mtpc (2016)
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Tourist Arrivals
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81,000 (2013)
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Population
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7.56 million; Male -3.74 mn; Female- 3.82 mn. (2017- UN)
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Life expectancy
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51 years (2016)
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Languages
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English, major local dialects; Mande, Temne, Krio.
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Ethnic groups
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Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia’s recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)
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Religion
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Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, Indigenous faith 30%.
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Internet Penetration
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11% of population (2016)
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Mobile phones
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97% of population (2016)
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Urbanisation
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39.2% (annual rate of change – 3.04% (2010-15)
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Exports
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USD 779 mn (2017 - WTO)
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Imports
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USD 1090 mn (2017- WTO)
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Main Trade Partners
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China, Belgium, India, UK, US, Ivory Coast, Senegal, UAE
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FDIs Net inflows
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USD 516 m (2016- est.) (World Bank)
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Net ODA receipts
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USD 946 mn (2016) (World Bank)
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Political
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Political Structure
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Unitary Republic
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Major Political Parties
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All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]
Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) [Julius Maada BIO];
National Grand Coalition [Dr. Kandeh Yumkella]
People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC;
United Democratic Movement or UDM;
National Democratic Alliance [Mohamed C. Bah]
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Head of State
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President – Mr. JULIUS MAADA BIO
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Head of Government
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President – Mr. JULIUS MAADA BIO
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Political Issues
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Corruption, poor governance, weak institutions, poverty & environmental, health challenges.
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India’s Exports
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USD 80.40 mn (2014-15) USD 91.17 mn (2015-16) USD 93.71 mn(2016-17),USD 93.51 mn (2017-2018)
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India’s Imports
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USD 23.59 mn (2014-15) USD 16.56 mn (2015-16) USD 12.23 mn (2016-17), USD 24.17 mn (2017-2018)
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Indian Exports
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Pharmaceuticals, rice, ethyl alcohol, bakery preparations; flat-rolled iron/steel; textiles; eggs; machine tools; motor cycles; light vehicles; plastics & packaging
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Indian Imports
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Diamonds; metal waste & scrap, wood pulp, waste paper, ingots and small quantities of titanium ores.
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Indian Investments in Sierra Leone
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As of 2007, Indian FDI stood at US$0.02 mn (EXIM Bank). Bharti Airtel which acquired Zain Africa for USD 10.7 billion in 2010 sold off to Orange Telecom of France in January 2017. Diaspora and PIO investments may be significant.
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Sierra Leoneon Investments in India
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NA (Shri Raj Kumar Bhurani, an OCI has applied for investing Rs. 4 crores in Hotel industry in Rajasthan)
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Indian Community
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Total number of Indians, incl. PIOs: 800 (est.)
They are mostly engaged in trade and manufacturing. A few of them are into mining and trading of gold and diamonds. There are about 60 Indian owned/ registered companies. Indian Mercantile Association is the only Indian association in Sierra Leone.
A Hindu temple is run by the local Temple Committee.
Choithram Trust, managed by the Indian owned Choitram Group, runs a Charitable Hospital.
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Fact Sheet on Sierra Leone
