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Sierra Leone Facts & Worksheets

Sierra Leone is a country located on West Africa's southwestern coast. As the origin of thousands of West African captives, it holds a distinctive place in the history of the transatlantic slave trade.

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Sierra Leone is a country located on West Africa’s southwestern coast. As the origin of thousands of West African captives, it holds a distinctive place in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. In 1787, the nation’s capital, Freetown, was established as a residence for formerly enslaved people.

See the fact file below for more information about Sierra Leone, or you can download our 29-page Sierra Leone worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • Portuguese navigator Pedro de Sintra is credited with calling it “Serra Lyoa” in 1462, according to the most widely accepted theory. De Sintra was one of the first European explorers to chart the coast of the countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. According to one legend, de Sintra named the mountain range the Lion Mountains when he and his crew heard lions howling in the nearby mountains.
  • In 2015, Cecil Magbaily Fyle, a historian and scholar from Sierra Leone, challenged the notion that de Sintra originated the name by presenting evidence that it was already used before 1462.
  • After the advent of English seamen on the coast in the 16th century, the name changed, and a shortened version of the original Portuguese name, “Sierra Leoa,” was given to the region.
  • Sierra Leone was officially changed from Sierra Leona, a misspelled version of the Spanish after Sierra Leone ended up as a British Crown Colony in 1808. The meaning of Lion Mountains or Mountains of Lions did not change.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Sierra Leone is situated north of the equator on Africa’s west coast. Guinea lies to the country’s northeast, while Liberia borders it to the southeast. To the southwest is the South Atlantic Ocean.
  • The combined area of Sierra Leone is 71,740 sq. km (27,699 sq. mi), of which 71,620 sq. km (27,653 sq. mi) is land and 120 sq. km (46 sq. mi) is water.
  • One area and four provinces make up Sierra Leone. Eastern, Northern, North, Western, and Southern are the provinces. The region is referred to as the Freetown Peninsula or Western Area. 
  • Four separate geographic regions make up the nation. The country’s highest point, Mount Bintumani, rising to 1,948 meters (6,391 feet) on the plateau in eastern Sierra Leone, is dotted by tall mountains. This region’s southern boundary is the upper portion of the Moa River’s drainage basin.
  • Approximately 43% of Sierra Leone’s total land area consists of lowland plains in the center and is home to farms, forests, and shrubs. According to the World Wildlife Fund, this is divided into two sections: rainforest plains and farmland in the south and Guinean forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion in the north.
  • Sierra Leone’s 400 km (249 mi) of Atlantic coastline in the west provides abundant marine resources and a desirable tourism destination. Low-lying Guinean mangrove swamps can be found along the coast. Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, is located next to the harbor on a peninsula that faces the sea.
  • The rainy season (May to November) and the dry season (December to May), which includes harmattan—when excellent, dry winds blow off the Sahara Desert—determine the agricultural cycle. The climate is tropical (hot and humid). 
  • Located next to Sierra Leone Harbor, the third largest natural harbor in the world, Freetown, the country’s capital, is perched on a coastal peninsula. In the past, Sierra Leone was the hub of colonial governance and trade due to its advantageous location.
  • The nation has a dense drainage system. Many rivers originate in Guinea’s well-watered Fouta Djallon highlands and flow generally from northeast to southwest across Sierra Leone. Rapids cut across their middle courses, limiting navigability to a narrow inland route. There are noticeable seasonal variations in river levels.
  • Factors like soil types and relief have affected the distribution of plants and animals; however, farming practices and civil unrest have probably had a greater impact. 
  • The land degradation in Sierra Leone is attributed to several human activities, including unsustainable agricultural land use, inadequate soil and water management techniques, deforestation, removal of natural vegetation, burning of fuelwood, and, to a lesser degree, overgrazing, and urbanization.

HISTORY

  • According to archeological discoveries, societies that came to Sierra Leone from various regions of Africa over at least 2,500 years have lived there continually.
  • The British established a trading base close to modern-day Freetown in the 17th century. Initial commodities traded in the trade were ivory and wood, but eventually, it also included enslaved people. 
  • After the American Revolution in 1787, Black British allies from the emerging United States began traveling to Sierra Leone. 
  • The trade in enslaved Africans was abolished in Great Britain in 1807, and the British government assumed control of Freetown from the financially ailing business in early 1808, utilizing it as a naval base to combat the slave trade. 
  • Nearly 50,000 freed Africans settled in Freetown between 1808 and 1864.
  • In 1961, Sierra Leone separated from the United Kingdom. 
  • The administration of Premier Siaka Stevens was overthrown by a military coup in 1967. Still, he returned as prime minister the next year and was elected president of Sierra Leone in 1971 after the country became a republic.
  • The civil war began in 1991 as part of the drive against President Joseph Saidu Momoh, former army corporal Foday Sankoh, and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) seized towns along the Liberian border.
  • President Joseph Momoh was overthrown in 1992 in a military coup directed by Captain Valentine Strasser. Strasser prepared for the first election with multiple parties since 1967 after receiving pressure from the international community. But following a string of coups, the nation quickly changed its leaders.
  • Tejan Kabbah, who had been chosen as prime minister in 1996, was established in 1998 by a military alliance led by Nigeria in West Africa. 
  • UN troops, who had been sent to the nation to aid in the war’s end, were attacked in the east in 2000. Several hundred UN personnel were kidnapped. Rebels were drawn near Freetown. British paratroopers were dispatched to Freetown to rescue British nationals and assist in securing the airport for UN forces; Foday Sankoh, the rebel leader, was taken prisoner.
  • The war was deemed to be concluded in 2002. According to a UN mission, 45,000 fighters had all their weapons removed. UN and the government decided to establish a war crimes court. After serving for two years to assist in ending the civil war, British troops left Sierra Leone.
  • While awaiting trial for war crimes, rebel commander Foday Sankoh passed away in 2003 from natural causes.
  • In 2004, the first municipal elections in over 30 years were held, and war crimes tribunals investigating atrocities committed by both sides throughout the conflict were established.

ECONOMY

  • Economic infrastructure had significantly deteriorated by the 1990s, and economic activity began declining. In the ensuing ten years, the nation’s civil war devastated a large portion of the formal economy. Massive foreign aid inflows have aided Sierra Leone’s recovery since the end of hostilities in January 2002.
  • A large portion of the recovery will hinge on how well the government handles official corruption, which many believe was the main driver of the civil war.
  • Of the total national income, 52.5% comes from agriculture. The government is working to improve the skills of small farmers and boost the production of food and cash crops.
  • The primary source of foreign exchange earnings for Sierra Leone is mineral exports. Sierra Leone is a significant supplier of diamonds with gem quality. Despite this resource’s abundance, the nation has always had trouble controlling how it is used and exported. 
  • Import substitution is the leading way that industrialization is limited. Most consumer goods, including cigarettes, sugar, alcoholic beverages, soap, textiles, footwear, mineral fuels, and lubricants, are produced in Freetown, where manufacturing is concentrated. 
  • The Bank of Sierra Leone serves as the nation’s central bank, issuing currency (the leone), managing external reserves, and advising the government on banking and financial matters. 

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • With an estimated 8,908,040 people, children and youth make up the majority of the population in Sierra Leone.
  • Approximately eighteen ethnic groups share cultural traits like patrilineal descent, secret societies, chieftaincy, and agricultural practices. The two largest groups are the Mende, who live in the east and south, and the Temne, who live in the center and northwest.
  • Approximately eighteen ethnic groups share cultural traits like patrilineal descent, secret societies, chieftaincy, and agricultural practices. The two largest groups are the Mende, who live in the east and south, and the Temne, who live in the center and northwest.
  • The principal vernaculars in the south and north, respectively, are Mende and Temne. The official language of Sierra Leone is English, which is limited to literate minorities. The English-based Creole, Krio, is spoken by the descendants of formerly enslaved Jamaicans who settled in the Freetown area. It serves as a lingua franca and is the first language for 10% of the population, but it is understood by 95%.
  • Officially, Sierra Leone is a secular state. The two predominant religions in the nation are Islam and Christianity. The Sierra Leonean constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and is generally upheld by the government.

GOVERNMENT

  • For the first time since 1972, local elections were conducted in 2004, yielding 456 councilors to serve on 19 local councils.
  • The High Court of Justice, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, and magistrate courts comprise Sierra Leone’s judicial system. The three courts’ judges are chosen by the president and approved by parliament.
  • With a unicameral legislature and a president chosen directly, Sierra Leone is a republic founded on a constitution. 
  • Along with leading the government, the president also serves as the supreme military commander. Parliamentary approval is required before the president can name and show a cabinet of ministers. For a maximum of two five-year terms, the president is chosen by popular vote. The House of Representatives exercises control over the president.
  • With 124 seats, the unicameral parliament is presided over by 12 paramount chiefs from each of the country’s 12 administrative districts. Of these, 112 are chosen concurrently with presidential elections. Each member is in office for five years.

CULTURE

  • Dancing is the most notable aspect of cultural life. The well-known Sierra Leone National Dance Troupe is still performing in the twenty-first century after receiving widespread praise during its debut at the 1964–1965 New York World Fair. 
  • The Mende and the Kono are the people who weave cloth, usually colored blue, brown, white, or a combination of these colors, in the southern and eastern regions. 
  • In Sierra Leone, association football is unquestionably the most popular sport. It’s common to see kids, teens, and adults playing street football throughout Sierra Leone. 

TOURISM

  • Freetown is a popular tourist destination. The Freetown Peninsula is dotted with a long stretch of beaches.
  • Other well-known beaches include Laka Beach, Tokeh Beach, Bureh Beach, Mama Beach, and the internationally recognized River Number 2 Beach.
  • The Aberdeen-Lumley district is popular with visitors interested in experiencing the city’s nightlife.

Sierra Leone Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Sierra Leone across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Sierra Leone. As the origin of thousands of West African captives, it holds a distinctive place in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. In 1787, the nation’s capital, Freetown, was established as a residence for formerly enslaved people.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Sierra Leone Facts 
  2. Quick Facts
  3. Let’s Look Back
  4. Take a Look
  5. Speak the Truth
  6. Finding Out
  7. Time to Draw
  8. Places to Visit
  9. Uniquely Made
  10. Spreading Information
  11. Movie Time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital city of Sierra Leone?

The capital city of Sierra Leone is Freetown

What is the official language of Sierra Leone?

English is the official language of Sierra Leone.

What is Sierra Leone known for?

Sierra Leone is known for its rich cultural diversity, beautiful landscapes, and its history, including the role it played in the transatlantic slave trade. The country is also recognized for its diamond mines, though unfortunately, the diamond trade has been associated with conflicts in the past.

What is the currency of Sierra Leone?

The official currency of Sierra Leone is the Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL).

What challenges has Sierra Leone faced in recent history?

Sierra Leone has faced various challenges, including a brutal civil war that occurred from 1991 to 2002. The war was characterized by widespread violence, atrocities, and the extensive use of child soldiers. Additionally, the country has faced economic struggles and health crises, such as the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014-2016, which had significant social and economic impacts.

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Link will appear as Sierra Leone Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 17, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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