flag — Sierra Leone
Nation by Nation
Sierra Leone
People
People
Sierra Leone is home to several ethnic groups, the largest the Temne and Mende, plus the Krio descendants of freed slaves who settled Freetown. English is the official language, with Krio a widely spoken lingua franca.
Religious life is shared, notably harmoniously, among Muslims (the majority), Christians, and followers of traditional beliefs.
Sierra Leone has a young population and low literacy and development indicators, slowly rebuilding from war and Ebola, with widespread poverty.