S ierra Leone lies on the Atlantic Coast in West Africa. It is covered by large areas of forest and arable land.
Cattle raising and crops for export, such as coffee and oil palm, are important for the economy.
Much of the population though is involved in subsistence agriculture. Mining, particularly bauxite and diamonds, provide half of the country's foreign exchange but employs only a small fraction of the work force. Industry has concentrated on import substitution such as beer and cigarettes, and while the country's ocean resources are vast, they remain under-utilised. Since independence Sierra Leone has experienced both parliamentary democracy and one party rule. Military coups have been fairly common.