Facts about Sierra Leone
Official languages: English
Capital: Freetown
Area: 71,740 km²
Population: 5.2 million residents
Population density: 73.12 residents per km²
Currency: SLL
Internet TLD: .sl
ISO codes: SL, SLE, 694
The telephone code from Sierra Leone is +232
Flag of Sierra Leone
The flag of Sierra Leone was adopted in 1961 when the country achieved independence from Great Britain. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes, of which there is a green stripe at the top, a white stripe in the middle, and a blue stripe at the bottom. The color green symbolizes the lush vegetation, mountains and agricultural tradition of the country, while the color white traditionally signifies peace and unity. The blue stripe resembles the Atlantic Ocean that washes the shores of Sierra Leone. This color combination was probably inspired by the country’s national coat of arms. Sierra Leone is characterized by a relatively mountainous profile, especially in the northeastern part of the country, literally translated Sierra Leone means “lion mountains”.
Sierra Leone is a republic in West Africa. It borders on Guinea, Liberia and the Atlantic. See Sierra Leone Location on World Map. The former British colony has been in last place on the UNDP list for years, synonymous with the status of the least developed of the 177 countries examined. After a decade of bloody civil war, the country is now busy rebuilding and coming to terms with recent history.
Biggest Cities of Sierra Leone by Population
The largest city in Sierra Leone is Freetown. Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, it has a population of around 1.1 million people and offers plenty to explore. Popular attractions here include Tacaguma Chimpanzee Sanctuary which makes for a great day out; Cotton Tree Monument which symbolizes the abolition of slavery; or King’s Gate which is a historic 18th century fort overlooking the city. Other attractions worth visiting include National Railway Museum where visitors can learn about the country’s railway history; Sierra Leone National Museum which houses some fascinating artifacts; or Lumley Beach where visitors can enjoy some stunning views over the ocean.
The second largest city in Sierra Leone is Bo. Located in the Southern Province, it has a population of around 300 thousand people and offers plenty to explore. Popular attractions here include Bo Waterside Market where visitors can explore some interesting souvenirs; Bunumbu Archaeological Site which houses some fascinating artifacts; or Nongoba Hills Nature Reserve which offers plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities. Other cities worth visiting include Makeni where visitors can admire some beautiful churches such as St Peter’s Catholic Church or St Michael’s Anglican Church; Kenema where visitors can visit some interesting museums such as Kenema Museum or Tombo Beach Museum; or Koidu Town where visitors can explore some stunning waterfalls such as Tingi Falls or Gola Forest National Park Falls.
| # | City | Population | Latitude | Longitude |
| 1 | Freetown, Sierra Leone | 802,750 | 8.48714 | -13.2356 |
| 2 | Bo, Sierra Leone | 174,465 | 7.96472 | -11.7383 |
| 3 | Kenema, Sierra Leone | 143,248 | 7.87687 | -11.1903 |
| 4 | Koidu, Sierra Leone | 88,111 | 8.64387 | -10.9714 |
| 5 | Makeni, Sierra Leone | 87,790 | 8.88605 | -12.0442 |
| 6 | Lunsar, Sierra Leone | 22,572 | 8.68439 | -12.535 |
| 7 | Port Loko, Sierra Leone | 21,419 | 8.76609 | -12.787 |
| 8 | Waterloo, Sierra Leone | 19,861 | 8.3389 | -13.0709 |
| 9 | Kabala, Sierra Leone | 18,059 | 9.58893 | -11.5526 |
| 10 | Segbwema, Sierra Leone | 16,643 | 7.99471 | -10.9502 |
| 11 | Magburaka, Sierra Leone | 15,026 | 8.72306 | -11.9488 |
| 12 | Kailahun, Sierra Leone | 14,196 | 8.2789 | -10.573 |
| 13 | Binkolo, Sierra Leone | 13,978 | 8.95225 | -11.9803 |
| 14 | Freetown, Sierra Leone | 13,879 | 8.43194 | -13.2897 |
| 15 | Bumpe, Sierra Leone | 13,691 | 7.89209 | -11.9054 |
| 16 | Rokupr, Sierra Leone | 12,615 | 8.67121 | -12.385 |
| 17 | Gandorhun, Sierra Leone | 12,399 | 7.55502 | -11.6926 |
| 18 | Kambia, Sierra Leone | 11,631 | 9.12504 | -12.9182 |
| 19 | Yengema, Sierra Leone | 11,332 | 8.71441 | -11.1706 |
| 20 | Gandorhun, Sierra Leone | 10,789 | 7.49431 | -11.8306 |
| 21 | Bonthe, Sierra Leone | 9,758 | 7.52639 | -12.505 |
| 22 | Pendembu, Sierra Leone | 8,891 | 8.09807 | -10.6943 |
| 23 | Blama, Sierra Leone | 8,257 | 7.87481 | -11.3455 |
| 24 | Kamakwie, Sierra Leone | 8,209 | 9.49689 | -12.2406 |
| 25 | Panguma, Sierra Leone | 8,076 | 8.18507 | -11.1329 |
| 26 | Pujehun, Sierra Leone | 8,037 | 7.35806 | -11.7208 |
| 27 | Kukuna, Sierra Leone | 7,787 | 9.39841 | -12.6648 |
| 28 | Barma, Sierra Leone | 7,640 | 8.34959 | -11.3306 |
| 29 | Boajibu, Sierra Leone | 7,495 | 8.18763 | -11.3403 |
| 30 | Bunumbu, Sierra Leone | 7,466 | 8.17421 | -10.8643 |
| 31 | Sumbuya, Sierra Leone | 7,185 | 7.64789 | -11.9606 |
| 32 | Baoma, Sierra Leone | 7,155 | 7.99344 | -11.7147 |
| 33 | Moyamba, Sierra Leone | 6,811 | 8.15898 | -12.4317 |
| 34 | Mambolo, Sierra Leone | 6,735 | 8.9186 | -13.0367 |
| 35 | Tombodu, Sierra Leone | 6,096 | 8.13526 | -10.6196 |
| 36 | Daru, Sierra Leone | 6,069 | 7.98976 | -10.8422 |
| 37 | Foindu, Sierra Leone | 5,979 | 7.40906 | -11.5433 |
| 38 | Masingbi, Sierra Leone | 5,755 | 8.78197 | -11.9517 |
| 39 | Motema, Sierra Leone | 5,585 | 8.61427 | -11.0125 |
| 40 | Bomi, Sierra Leone | 5,574 | 7.24611 | -11.5258 |
| 41 | Tintafor, Sierra Leone | 5,571 | 8.62667 | -13.215 |
| 42 | Buedu, Sierra Leone | 5,523 | 8.2796 | -10.3714 |
| 43 | Mamboma, Sierra Leone | 5,312 | 8.08742 | -11.6884 |
| 44 | Kassiri, Sierra Leone | 5,272 | 8.93814 | -13.1154 |
| 45 | Hastings, Sierra Leone | 5,232 | 8.37994 | -13.1369 |
| 46 | Hangha, Sierra Leone | 5,118 | 7.93974 | -11.1413 |
Sierra Leone: Freetown
According to Abbreviation Finder, Freetown is the capital of Sierra Leone. It is located on the Freetown Peninsula and is also the largest city in the country with a population of more than 800,000. With a port and industry, Freetown is also the country’s economic center. In 1787, freed slaves settled in what was now called the “Free City”.