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Compare Netherlands (2002) - Sierra Leone (2002)

Compare Netherlands (2002) z Sierra Leone (2002)

 Netherlands (2002)Sierra Leone (2002)
 NetherlandsSierra Leone
Administrative divisions 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Age structure 0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,502,687; female 1,437,141)


15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,548,188; female 5,362,412)


65 years and over: 13.8% (male 913,020; female 1,304,306) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,230,530; female 1,280,084)


15-64 years: 52.1% (male 1,397,070; female 1,528,986)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,256; female 90,817) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Airports 28 (2001) 10 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 21


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 6


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
total: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total: 41,526 sq km


land: 33,883 sq km


water: 7,643 sq km
total: 71,740 sq km


land: 71,620 sq km


water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey slightly smaller than South Carolina
Background The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999. Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the eleven-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. Reestablishment of government authority throughout the country is slowly proceeding and national elections took place in May 2002.
Birth rate 11.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 44.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $134 billion


expenditures: $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $96 million


expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)
Capital Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government Freetown
Climate temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Coastline 451 km 402 km
Constitution adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands


conventional short form: Netherlands


local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden


local short form: Nederland
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Currency euro (EUR); Netherlands guilder (NLG)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
leone (SLL)
Death rate 8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 18.83 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external - $1.3 billion (2000)
Dependent areas Aruba, Netherlands Antilles -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL


embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague


mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715


telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209


FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688


consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS


embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485


FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM


chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300


FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430


consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York


consulate(s): Boston
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA


chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263


FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Disputes - international none ongoing conflict in Sierra Leone has engendered refugee movements into neighboring Guinea and Liberia
Economic aid - donor ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.) -
Economic aid - recipient - $103 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-02, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a 10-year civil war. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. There are plans to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad.
Electricity - consumption 100.71 billion kWh (2000) 227.85 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 4.031 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 22.946 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 87.953 billion kWh (2000) 245 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 90%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 4%


other: 5% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m


highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Environment - current issues water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.) 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders per US dollar - 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997) leones per US dollar - 2,212.47 (January 2002), 1,985.89 (2001), 2,092.13 (2000), 1,804.20 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998), 981.48 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch


head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Vice Prime Ministers Johan REMKES (since NA 2002) and Roelf DE BOER (since NA 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch


note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the prime minister on legislative and administrative policy
chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms


election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA 22.4%
Exports $221.9 billion f.o.b. (2002) $65 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners EU 77.6% (Germany 25.6%, Benelux 11.8%, UK 11.1%, France 10.3%, Italy 6.2%) (2001) NZ 33.7%, Belgium 32.6%, US 7.4%, France 5.1% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue
GDP purchasing power parity - $434 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 71% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 43%


industry: 27%


services: 30% (2000)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.3% (2002 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Geography - note located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Heliports 1 (2002) 2 (2002)
Highways total: 116,500 km


paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)


unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
total: 11,700 km


paved: 936 km


unpaved: 10,764 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1994)
lowest 10%: 1%


highest 10%: 44% (1989) (1989)
Illicit drugs major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering -
Imports $201.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $145 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners EU 54.6% (Germany 18.4%, Benelux 9.2%, UK 8.9%, France 5.8%), US 9.9% (2001) Czech Republic 26.7%, UK 26.6%, US 5.1%, Netherlands 4.6% (2000)
Independence 1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence 27 April 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2002 est.) NA%
Industries agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining
Infant mortality rate 4.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 144.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.4% (2002 est.) 15% (2000 est.)
International organization participation AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 52 (2000) 1 (2001)
Irrigated land 5,650 sq km (1998 est.) 290 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch) Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Labor force 7.2 million (2000) 1.369 million


note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985) (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total: 1,027 km


border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
total: 958 km


border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Land use arable land: 26.53%


permanent crops: 1.03%


other: 72.44% (1998 est.)
arable land: 6.76%


permanent crops: 0.78%


other: 92.46% (1998 est.)
Languages Dutch English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Legal system civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 1999 (next to be held 15 May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held NA January 2007)


election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5
unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.58 years


male: 75.7 years


female: 81.59 years (2002 est.)
total population: 45.96 years


male: 43.01 years


female: 49.01 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (2000 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic


total population: 31.4%


male: 45.4%


female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM


contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Merchant marine total: 622 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,587,662 GRT/5,251,529 DWT


ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 380, chemical tanker 46, container 64, liquefied gas 16, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 9, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 34, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 5


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 1, Canada 1, Denmark 5, Finland 5, Germany 55, Ireland 12, Norway 12, Sweden 17, United Kingdom 33, United States 12 (2002 est.)
-
Military branches Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary Army (RSLAF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.) $10.3 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.5% (FY00/01 est.) 1.5% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 4,077,917 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 1,203,682 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 3,546,030 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 583,946 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and midshipmen) (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 96,082


note: Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2002 est.)
-
National holiday Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Nationality noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)


adjective: Dutch
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)


adjective: Sierra Leonean
Natural hazards flooding dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, arable land diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Net migration rate 2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: by the end of 1999 refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km -
Political parties and leaders Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter BALKENENDE]; Christian Union Party [M. VAN DAALEN]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Thom DE GRAAF]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Mat HERBEN]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Gerrit ZALM]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; a host of minor parties All People's Congress or APC [Alhaji Sat KOROMA, interim chairman]; Citizens United for Peace and Progress or CUPP [Alfred Musa CONTEH, interim chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Jeridine WILLIAM-SARHO, interim leader]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Adu Aiah KOROMA]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [George E. L. PALMER]; Democratic Party or DP [Henry BALO, acting chairman]; National Alliance Democratic Party or NADP [Mohamed Yahya SILLAH, chairman]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National People's Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; National Republican Party or NRP [Stephen Sahr MAMBU]; National Unity Movement or NUM [Sam LEIGH, interim chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [John BENJAMINE, interim leader]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Alliance or PDA [Cpl. (Ret.) Abdul Rahman KAMARA, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Osman KAMARA]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward John KARGBO]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or RUFP [Foday Saybana SANKOH, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Andrew Victor LUNGAY]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or UNPP [John KAREFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader]; Young People's Party or YPP [Cornelius DEVEAUS, interim chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises Trade Unions and Student Unions
Population 16,067,754 (July 2002 est.) 5,614,743 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 68% (1989 est.)
Population growth rate 0.53% (2002 est.) 3.21% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998) AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios 15.3 million (1996) 1.12 million (1997)
Railways total: 2,808 km


standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2001)
total: 84 km


narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge


note: Sierra Leone has no common carrier railroads; the existing railroad is private and used on a limited basis while the mine at Marampa is closed (2001)
Religions Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998) Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: highly developed and well maintained


domestic: the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)


international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service


domestic: The national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001)


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 9,132,400 (1999) 25,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,081,891 (April 1999) 30,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995) 2 (1999)
Terrain mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Total fertility rate 1.65 children born/woman (2002 est.) 5.94 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 3% (2002 est.) NA%
Waterways 5,046 km (of which 3,745 km are canals)


note: 47% of total route length is usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger
800 km (of which 600 km navigable year round)
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