Sierra Leone Languages

Map showing the location of Sierra Leone

The official language of Sierra Leone is English, however, the country is considered multilingual with several other languages taking precedent over English.

Approximately 97% of the 7.4 million citizens in the country speak the Krio language (either natively or as a second or third language) which evolved from English Creole. Krio provides a mutual method of communication between the various tribes and ethnic groups within Sierra Leone. There are approximately 23 languages that exist in Sierra Leone, but some are in danger of going extinct due to Krio being used the most.

Due to Krio language being used by almost everyone in the country it is useful to know a few phrases. Hello can be said as "a-do", or "koo-she", and how are you is pronounced "aw-dee-bo-dee". Other phrases will become easier to pick up as many visitors find the similarities with English make basic terms easier to learn. Thank you can be said as "tehn-key" and will be a common phrase used during a trip to the country.

Minority languages in Sierra Leone include Mende which is spoken natively by 37% of the population. Mende is spoken mainly in southern Sierra Leone with a small number of speakers in neighbouring Liberia. Temne is spoken by roughly 30% of the population as a first language and evolved from the Niger-Congo family of languages. Although English is the official language of education, the government, and media, it remains a minority language in terms of native speakers and prevalence within the country.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Freetown
Languages	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%)
Ethnic Groups	Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)
Religion	Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	27 April 1961 (from the UK)
Area	71,740.00 km²
Water Area	120.00 km²
Land Area	71,620.00 km²
Population	6,018,888.00
Location	Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
No. Bordering Countries	2
Bordering Countries	Guinea 794 km, Liberia 299 km
GDP(PPP)	$10,640,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$1,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are China, Belgium, and Romania.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are iron ore, diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, and fish.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, India, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include foodstuffs, machinery, and fuels.
Climate	Tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - northeastern monsoon (December to March) and southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
Terrain	Coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Learn More	Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Languages

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