Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with diverse environments ranging from savanna to rainforests. The capital and largest city is Freetown. The country is divided into five administrative regions, which are subdivided into 16 districts.

About 18 ethnic groups inhabit Sierra Leone; the two largest and most influential ones are the Temne and Mende peoples. About 2% of the country’s population are Creole people, descendants of freed African-American and Afro-Caribbean slaves. English is the official language used in schools and government administration. Krio is the most widely spoken language across Sierra Leone, spoken by 97% of the country’s population. Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, especially diamond, gold, bauxite and aluminium.