1986 Edition

Agriculture

islands depend largely on coconut production and export of copra; cinnamon, vanilla, and patchouli (used for perfumes) are other cash crops; food crops — small quantities of sweet potatoes, cassava, sugarcane, and bananas; islands not selfsufficient in foodstuffs and the bulk of the supply must be imported; fish is an important food source

main crops — palm kernels, coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, millet, ginger, cassava; much of cultivated land devoted to subsistence farming; food crops insufficient for domestic consumption

Aid

economic commitments — Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1978-83), $216 million; US(FY78-84), $11 million; Communist countries (1970-84), $32 million

Airfields

14 total, 14 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

14 total, 1 1 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 3 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

executive authority exercised by President; unicameral parliament consists of 104 authorized seats, 85 of which are filled by elected representatives of constituencies and 12 by Paramount Chiefs elected by fellow Paramount Chiefs in each district; President authorized to appoint up to seven members; independent judiciary

Army, Navy

Budget

(1984) revenues, $61 million; grants, $4 million; current expenditures, $64 million; capital expenditures, $11 million; net lending, $3.5 million

(1983/84) revenues, $109 million; current expenditures, $146 million; development expenditures, $68 million

Capital

Freetown

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

no major transport aircraft

Coastline

402 km People

Communisms

no party, although there are a few Communists and a slightly larger number of sympathizers

Elections

the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act, 1971, has been replaced by the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1978, which provides for one-party rule Political parties and leaders: All People's Congress (APC), headed by Momoh

Electric power

20,000 kW capacity (1985); 58 million kWh produced (1985), 878 kWh per capita

65,000 kW capacity (1985); 1 13 million kWh produced (1985), 29 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

over 99% native African (30% Temne, 30% Mende, 2% Creole), rest European and Asian; 13 tribes

Exports

$4.4 million (f.o.b., 1984 prelim.); fish, copra, cinnamon bark

$104 million (f.o.b., 1983/84); diamonds, iron ore, palm kernels, cocoa, coffee

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

1 July-30 June Communications

Fishing

catch 53,000 metric tons (1983)

GDP

$150 million (1983 prelim.); $2,320 per capita (1984 est.); real growth rate -1.895 (1984 prelim.)

(current factor cost) $1 billion. (1983/84 est); real growth rate 0.5% (1983/84)

Government leader

Gen. Joseph MOMOH, President (since 28 November 1985); Francis MINAH, First Vice President (since November 1985); A. B. KARMARA, Second Vice President (since November 1985)

Highways

215 km total; 145 km bituminous, 70 km crushed stone or earth

7,460 km total; 1,225 km bituminous, 490 km laterite (some gravel), remainder improved earth

Imports

$72.7 million (f.o.b., 1984 prelim.); manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transport equipment, and petroleum products

$126 million (f.o.b., 1983/84); machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Inland waterways

800 km; 600 km navigable year round

Labor force

about 1.5 million; most of population engages in subsistence agriculture; only small minority, some 65,000, earn wages

Land boundaries

933 km Water

Language

English (official); regular use limited to literate minority; principal vernaculars are Mende in south and Temne in north; "Krio," the language of the resettled exslave population of the Freetown area, is lingua franca

Legal system

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; constitution adopted 1978; highest court of appeal is the Sierra Leone Court of Appeals; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy

46

Limits of territorial waters (claimed)

200 nm

Literacy

about 15%

Major industries

tourism is largest industry; processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, small-scale manufacture of consumer goods, coir rope factory, tea factory

mining — diamonds, iron ore, bauxite, rutile; manufacturing beverages, textiles, cigarettes, construction goods; 1 oil refinery

Major trade partners

exports — Pakistan, France, Reunion, UK, Mauritius; imports — Bahrain, UK, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, France

UK, EC, US, Japan, Communist countries

Member of

Af DB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO Economy

AfDB, AIOEC, Commonwealth, EGA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDE — Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, Mano River Union, NAM, OAU, QIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO Economy

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1985, $8.5 million, 9.5% of central government budget 75km Morth \f< Atlantic Ocean Sec rcfionil map VII Suh Land 71,740 km2; slightly smaller than South Carolina; 65% arable (6% cultivated), 27% pasture, 4% swamp, 4% forest

Military manpower

males 15-49, 16,000; 8,000 fit for military service

males 15-49, 876,000; 425,000 fit for military service; no conscription

Monetary conversion rate

6.80 Seychelles rupees=US$l (31 October 1985)

(official) 2.5 leones=US$l (October 1983)

National holiday

Republic Day, 19 April

Nationality

noun — Sierra Leonean(s); adjective— Sierra Leonean

Natural resources

fish, copra, spices

diamonds, rutile, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Official name

Republic of Sierra Leone

Organized labor

35% of wage earners Government

Political subdivisions

3 provinces and the Western Area; divided into 12 districts with 146 chiefdoms, where paramount chief and council of elders constitute basic unit of government; plus Western Area, which comprises Freetown and other coastal areas of the former colony

Population

3,987,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 2.6%

Ports

1 port (Victoria); development underway will double capacity

1 major (Freetown), 2 minor

Railroads

none

about 84 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge privately owned mineral line operated by the Sierra Leone Development Company

Religion

30% Muslim, 30% indigenous beliefs, 10% Christian, 30% other or none

Suffrage

universal over age 21

Telecommunications

direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries; 9, 1 00 telephones (14.1 per 100 pop!.); 2 AM, no FM stations; 1 TV station; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station; USAF tracking station Defense Forces

fair telephone and telegraph service; 16,000 telephones (0.5 per lOOpopl.); 1 INTELSAT Atlantic Ocean satellite ground station; 3 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV stations Defense Forces

Type

republic under presidential regime since April 1971