Sierra Leone (country)

C

Education

In 1999–2000, 65 percent of primary school-aged children were enrolled in school, while only 26 percent of secondary school-aged children were attending. Only 36 percent of the adult population is literate. The University of Sierra Leone (1967), which includes Fourah Bay College (1827) and Njala University College (1964), is the country’s main institute of higher learning.

IV

Economy

The economy of Sierra Leone is based on agriculture and mining. Some 67 percent of the population is engaged in farming, fishing, or forestry. Much of the farming is of a subsistence nature. Plantation agriculture is significant only in the coastal region. Minerals are the country’s principal export. In 2004 the national budget showed revenues of $255 million and expenditures of $132 million.

A

Agriculture

The staple food crop of Sierra Leone is rice; during the 1970s efforts were made to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, but imports are still needed. Some 1,062,320 metric tons were produced in 2006. Other crops grown for domestic consumption include cassava, millet, sorghum, peanuts, and sugar. Agricultural commodities such as palm oil, palm kernels, coffee, cacao, ginger, kola nuts, and piassava (palm fibers) are grown for export. Cattle, goats, and sheep are raised, and the fishing industry is of increasing importance.

B

Mining

Gem and industrial diamonds are the leading mineral products of Sierra Leone. In 2004, 309,390 carats of gem-quality diamonds were produced. Rutile, a titanium ore of which Sierra Leone has one of the world’s largest deposits, and bauxite are also mined in large quantities.

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C

Manufacturing

Manufacturing in Sierra Leone is limited largely to the processing of primary products such as palm kernels and rice. Light industries, including furniture, textile, cigarette, and cement manufacturing, have been developed. Sierra Leone has a refinery for imported petroleum.

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