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Flag of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a West African country with a history deeply intertwined with the transatlantic slave trade. Freetown, the capital, was founded in 1787 as a settlement for freed slaves from Britain, the Americas, and Nova Scotia, and its name reflects that founding purpose. The country has extraordinary natural resources including diamonds, titanium, and bauxite, and was severely affected by a civil war from 1991 to 2002.

Flag of Sierra Leone

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Sierra Leone means

Green stands for agriculture and the mountains, white for unity and justice, and blue for the natural harbour of Freetown and the hope of peace. The flag was adopted at independence from Britain in 1961.

More about the flag

Sierra Leone's name comes from the Portuguese Serra Leoa, lion mountains, given by explorer Pedro de Sintra in 1462. The flag's colours are taken from the coat of arms granted in 1960, which shows a lion beneath a zigzag line for the mountains. Freetown, the capital, was founded in 1792 as a home for freed slaves. The flag was first raised at independence on 27 April 1961.

How to recognise it

Horizontal green-white-blue stripes — simple, no symbol.

Did you know?

Sierra Leone is home to the world's third-largest natural harbour, at Freetown.

Easily confused with

Sierra Leone's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Flag of Guinea Guinea Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire

Flag history of Sierra Leone

Every flag that has flown over Sierra Leone, from today back through time.

Flag of Sierra Leone
1961–present

Flag of Sierra Leone

Adopted at independence in 1961, a green-white-blue tricolour. Green stands for agriculture and mountains, white for unity and justice, and blue for the natural harbour of Freetown.

Colonial Blue Ensign (1914 arms)
1916–1961

Colonial Blue Ensign (1914 arms)

A colonial Blue Ensign bearing Sierra Leone's own coat of arms, which depicted the Union Jack, a palm tree, and an African greeting an arriving ship.

Colonial Blue Ensign (first badge)
1889–1916

Colonial Blue Ensign (first badge)

The early British colonial flag: a Blue Ensign with a badge showing an elephant, oil palm, and mountains over the letters "S.L."

Neighbouring countries

Sierra Leone shares a land border with 2 countries: Guinea and Liberia.

Flag of Guinea Guinea Flag of Liberia Liberia
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