Capital of Sierra Leone: Freetown — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
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.
How to remember Sierra Leone
Freetown's name tells its story: the area was settled in 1787 by formerly enslaved people sent from London, and the city was founded in 1792. For the flag, read it from the hills down to the sea: green land, white, blue water.
The flag of Sierra Leone: green, white and blue
🇸🇱 The flag is three horizontal stripes of light green, white and light blue. Green stands for farming, the mountains and natural resources, white for unity and justice, and blue for the sea and the natural harbour at Freetown.
Region and neighbours
Sierra Leone is a country on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, between Guinea and Liberia. It shares land borders with 2 countries: Guinea and Liberia.
- Guinea 🇬🇳 — capital Conakry
- Liberia 🇱🇷 — capital Monrovia
Three facts about Sierra Leone
- The country's name comes from the Lion Mountains near Freetown. A Portuguese explorer called them Serra Leoa ('lioness mountains') in 1462.
- Freetown's harbour is one of the largest natural deep-water harbours in the world.
- Sierra Leone became independent from the United Kingdom in 1961.
Sources: Wikipedia: Sierra Leone, Wikipedia: Flag of Sierra Leone, Wikipedia: Freetown, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Sierra Leone
- African capitals quiz — match Sierra Leone to Freetown
- African flags quiz — spot the Sierra Leone flag among its neighbours
Sierra Leone capital quiz
What is the capital of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱?
- Malabo
- Freetown
- Port Louis
- Windhoek
Show answer
Freetown
What is the capital of Togo 🇹🇬?
- Maseru
- Lomé
- Niamey
- Bissau
Show answer
Lomé
What is the capital of Libya 🇱🇾?
- Brazzaville
- Freetown
- Rabat
- Tripoli
Show answer
Tripoli
What is the capital of South Sudan 🇸🇸?
- Lusaka
- Yamoussoukro
- Juba
- Tunis
Show answer
Juba
What is the capital of Tunisia 🇹🇳?
- Maputo
- Malabo
- Tunis
- Dodoma
Show answer
Tunis
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.
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.
What are the colours of the Sierra Leone flag?
The flag of Sierra Leone is three horizontal stripes of light green, white and light blue. Green stands for farming, the mountains and natural resources, white for unity and justice, and blue for the sea and the natural harbour at Freetown.
Which countries border Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone shares land borders with Guinea and Liberia.
How can I remember the capital of Sierra Leone?
Freetown's name tells its story: the area was settled in 1787 by formerly enslaved people sent from London, and the city was founded in 1792. For the flag, read it from the hills down to the sea: green land, white, blue water.
More capitals to learn
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