t (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph MELROSE; note--embassy closed in
late December 1998
embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of light green
(top), white, and light blue

Economy

Economy--overview: Sierra Leone has 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. The period of
AFRC/RUF junta rule (May 1997-February 1998) led to UN sanctions and
20% drop in GDP in 1997. The continued fighting at yearend 1997 set
back what small progress had been made by the KABBAH government in
recovering from the junta period and reestablishing a viable
economy. 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. Bauxite and rutile mines have been shut down by
civil strife. The major source of hard currency is found in the
mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled out of
the country. The fate of the economy in 1999 depends on the outcome
of negotiations to end the civil strife.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 0.7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$530 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 52%
industry: 16%
services: 32% (1996)

Population below poverty line: 68% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 37.4% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)
note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%,
services 16% (1981 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)