Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Sierra Leone?
Freetown
The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown. About 1.3 million people live in the Freetown urban area — 14.8% of the country's population.
1.3 million
Urban area population
UTC0
Time zone
8.48°N
Latitude · 13.23°W
Yes
Largest city
Freetown at a glance
Name origin
The name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans.
Time zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
8 29 N, 13 14 W · IANA time zone Africa/Abidjan
Location of Sierra Leone
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Capitals closest to Freetown
Conakry, Guinea — 124 km
Monrovia, Liberia — 362 km
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau — 454 km
Banjul, Gambia — 661 km
Bamako, Mali — 736 km
Dakar, Senegal — 844 km
Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire — 897 km
Nouakchott, Mauritania — 1,106 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Freetown
What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown. About 1.3 million people live in the Freetown urban area — 14.8% of the country's population.
Is Freetown the largest city in Sierra Leone?
Yes — Freetown is also the largest urban area of Sierra Leone (1.3 million).
What time zone is Freetown in?
Freetown is on UTC0 — UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Freetown come from?
The name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans.
Which capital is closest to Freetown?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Conakry (Guinea) is the closest, 124 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).