Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or [232] (76) 515 000 FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light
blue
Economy Sierra Leone
Economy - overview:
Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous
inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial
mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and
social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social
disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds
of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture.
Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and
of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond
mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings,
accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of
the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the
continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential
to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government
revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce
inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a
revival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxite
and rutile mining.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.38 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.233 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 31% services: 21% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)