Country Facts

• While English is the official language, Krio is the most widely spoken, and unites all ethnic groups within Sierra Leone.
• Sierra Leone is known for its blood diamonds, which were mined and sold to diamond conglomerates during the civil war, in order to buy weapons.  
• Unlike many African countries, Sierra Leone has no serious ethnic or religious divisions, and people often marry across tribal and religious boundaries. 

Why children need your help

• Sierra Leone is one of the world’s most impoverished places on earth, ranked by the United Nations in 180^th place out of a total of 182 countries.
• The average life expectancy is just 48 years, and less than half of all adults are able to read and write.
• While Sierra Leone has the highest annual rainfall in West Africa, many rural communities still have a shortage of safe water to drink.