Capital of Sierra Leone: Freetown
The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown. Sierra Leone sits in Africa, has a population of 8,605,718, and uses the SLL. Official languages include English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Freetown
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~8,605,718
- Area: 71,740 km²
- Population density: 120 people per km²
- Official language: English
- Currency: SLL
- ISO code: SL
How big is Sierra Leone?
By population, Sierra Leone ranks 102nd in the world, holding roughly 0.11% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 117th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Sierra Leone has 120 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.0 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Sierra Leone is the 34th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Sierra Leone in population are Switzerland (8,740,471) and Togo (8,848,699).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Ireland (70,273 km²) and Georgia (69,700 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.
Sierra Leone uses the SLL, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
Sierra Leone in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Sierra Leone belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Sierra Leone and a page on the flag of Sierra Leone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown.
What is the population of Sierra Leone?
About 8,605,718, making it the 102nd most populous country in the world.
How big is Sierra Leone?
71,740 square kilometres, ranking 117th by land area, at a density of 120 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Sierra Leone use?
The SLL, which no other country uses.