Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
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%)
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Area
71,740 km sq
160 km sq
Coastline
402 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
