Sierra Leone Country Profile
Sierra Leone Country Profile
Discover more about CDC’s work in Sierra Leone by viewing our detailed country profile
Country Overview
CDC began supporting Sierra Leone’s HIV response in 2008. In 2015, after CDC’s support of the nation’s Ebola epidemic response, a permanent country office was established in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. CDC focuses on implementing effective prevention programs by improving HIV testing and preventing mother-to-child transmission; strengthening surveillance and program monitoring and evaluation; improving care and treatment services including HIV and tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and antiretroviral treatment; enhancing point-of-care laboratory testing for drug-resistant TB and HIV/TB co-infection; and building high-quality laboratory systems to support HIV and TB testing.
Per Capita GNI
$510
(2022)
Population (million)
8.60
(2022)
Under 5 Mortality
104.7/1,000 Live Births
(2021)
Life Expectancy
60 Years
(2021)
Estimated HIV Prevalence
1.4%
(Ages 15-49): (2022)
Estimated AIDS Deaths
1,500
(Age≥15) (2022)
TB Treatment Success Rate
89%
(2020)
Estimated TB Incidence
289/100,000
(2021)
Estimated Orphans Due to AIDS
43,000
(2022)
TB patients with known HIV-status who are HIV-positive
15%
(2021)
Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
56,310
(Age≥15) (2022)
Tracking PEPFAR Impact Toward Global Targets
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works with partners including host countries, local implementing partners, faith-based organizations, and other community-based organizations to measure progress towards HIV epidemic control in countries supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Vital Signs: Global HIV Communications Toolkit
In 2003, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, was announced. When it was launched, PEPFAR became the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. At the time, HIV was a global crisis, devastating families, communities, and economies worldwide—particularly in sub-Saharan African countries.
CDC On the Frontlines
Over the past 20 years, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved millions of lives as a leader in the global response to two of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases – HIV and TB. As a key implementing agency of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC is at the forefront of these global efforts to treat and prevent these diseases.