Situated in Western Africa, Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 (officially Republic of Sierra Leone) is one of the most interesting places you can land on when you spin the globe. With a population of about 8.6 million and a total area of 71,740 km², it offers far more than its statistics suggest.
Whether you discovered Sierra Leone through our random country spinner or searched for it directly, this guide covers everything you need to know: the flag, the capital city of Freetown, population figures, languages, currency, geography and a collection of memorable facts.
Where is Sierra Leone located?
Sierra Leone lies in Western Africa, in the Africa region of the world. Measuring roughly 71,740 square kilometres, it ranks 121st in the world by total area.
Sierra Leone has a coastline as well as land borders with Guinea and Liberia — a crossroads position that has influenced its culture and economy for centuries.
Freetown serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else Sierra Leone has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is home to approximately 8.6 million residents — the 102nd largest population on the planet. Its people are known as Sierra Leoneans.
The main language spoken here is English. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, Sierra Leone rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Good to know before you go
The official currency is the Sierra Leonean leone (SLL, symbol Le). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Sierra Leone is +232. Websites from the country typically use the .sl internet domain.
If Sierra Leone came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (Freetown) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Neighbouring countries
Sierra Leone shares borders with 2 countries:
Fun facts about Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone's flag emoji is 🇸🇱 — its two-letter country code is SL and its three-letter code is SLE.
- Sierra Leone covers 71,740 km², ranking 121st in the world by area.
- With about 8.6 million people, Sierra Leone holds the 102nd spot in the world population ranking.
- Sierra Leone is a member state of the United Nations.
- Sierra Leone shares borders with 2 countries.
Sierra Leone — frequently asked questions
- 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 approximately 8,642,022 people, ranking 102nd in the world.
- Where is Sierra Leone located?
- Sierra Leone is located in Western Africa, part of the Africa region.
- What language is spoken in Sierra Leone?
- The main language spoken in Sierra Leone is English.
- What currency is used in Sierra Leone?
- Sierra Leone uses the Sierra Leonean leone (SLL).
