Here are some facts and figures about Sierra Leone taken from the DFID in August 2007
- Sierra Leone is a country the size of Scotland and has a population of aboutn 5 million of which 70% live on less than one dollar a day [about 50 pence UK money], and 26% live in extreme poverty [defined as below a calorific intake of 2700 calories per day.
- GDP per capita is approximately $200. In the UK GDP per capita is $37,600
- The ratio of girls to boys in primary school is now almost equal, but less than 70% of children are enrolled in primary school. In the UK 100% of boys and girls are enrolled in primary school.
- Average life expectancy is 41 years in Sierra Leone. Average life expectancy in the UK is 79 years.
- In the year 2004, 286 out of every 1,000 children died before the age of five. The worst in the world. In the UK 6 out of every 1,000 children died before the age of five.
- Sierra Leone has the highest rate in the world for maternal mortality with 2000 per 100,000 women dying during childbirth. The worst in the world. In the UK the rate is 13 per 100,000.
- Less than half the population has access to safe and clean water and less than one third have access to sanitation.