Women in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leonean woman in traditional dress | |
| General Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 890 (2010) |
| Women in parliament | 12.4% (2013) |
| Women over 25 with secondary education | 9.5% (2012) |
| Women in labour force | 65.7% (2012) |
| Gender Inequality Index | |
| Value | 0.633 (2021) |
| Rank | 162nd out of 191 |
| Global Gender Gap Index | |
| Value | 0.672 (2022) |
| Rank | 109th out of 146 |
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| Women in society |
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Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a Constitutional Republic in West Africa. Since it was founded in 1792, the women in Sierra Leone have been a major influence in the political and economic development of the nation.
Sierra Leonean women face extreme gender inequality. They experience high levels of poverty, violence, and exclusion. Nevertheless, they have also played an important role in the education system, founding schools and colleges, with some such as Hannah Benka-Coker being honoured with the erection of a statue for her contributions and Lati Hyde-Forster, first woman to graduate from Fourah Bay College being honored with a doctor of civil laws degree by the University of Sierra Leone.