Geographical location :
West Africa, bordering Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
(i.e. 8,460,512)
nominal,
latest estimate, up from ~ USD 758 in 2023
Why Sierra Leone is considered a “failed / fragile state” candidate.
Sierra Leone exhibits persistent fragility rooted in governance deficits, weak institutional capacity, corruption, and historical conflict.
According to the Fragile States Index 2024, it has a score of 82.6 and ranks ~ 45th most fragile in the world Corruption is endemic: Transparency International’s 2024 data reports Sierra Leone scored 33 (on 0–100 scale) in the Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking ~114th of 180.
Governance and human rights reports indicate serious problems: harsh prison conditions, overcrowding, weak oversight, impunity for abuses, difficulties in the justice system, and frequent reports of arbitrary arrests and abuse by security forces.
The socio-economic challenge is severe: large portions of the population live in poverty, dependence on primary commodities (minerals, agriculture) is high, and public revenues are too low to sustain robust social services. The state’s capacity to project authority beyond the capital is limited.
In 2024, a coup attempt was foiled, leading to convictions of former military and police personnel — signalling persistent risks to stability.
