A POVERTY PROFILE FOR SIERRA LEONE Kristen Himelein World Bank June 26, 2013

2 o The data on which this profile is based are the 2003 and 2011 rounds of the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) conducted by Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL). o This analytic work was produced in collaboration between SSL and the World Bank. o The forthcoming work to follow will include more detailed analysis proposed on health, education, agriculture, labor, and the impact of changes in food and fuel prices.

3 o Poverty has decreased between 2003 and 2011, but more than half of the population is still below the poverty line. o Led by strong growth in rural areas, yet rural poverty is still higher than urban poverty. o Inequality has decreased. o Sierra Leone continues to be a very young and predominantly rural and agricultural country. o Improvements in indicators have been uneven over this period, and many people, particularly those in remote areas, have difficulty accessing public services.

4 Nationally, poverty has decreased from 66.4 to 52.9 percent between 2003 and 2011 – a reduction of more than 10 percent.

5 o Poverty has decreased in all regions except the Western region: Region % change Eastern % Northern % Southern % Western %

6 o Poverty has also decreased overall in both rural and urban areas, even though it increased in Freetown: % change Rural % Freetown % Other Urban %

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8 HeadcountFoodExtreme Kailahun Kenema Kono Bombali Kambia Koinadugu Port Loko Tonkolili Bo Bonthe Moyamba Pujehun Western rural Western urban

9 o Poverty increased 52 percent in the city of Freetown and 35 percent overall in the Western region. o A possible explanation is that many poor people have moved from the countryside to the Freetown. Increase in voting age population o WB and SSL are collaborating on future work to further explore these issues.

10 o At the same pace as seen between 2003 and 2011, poverty will be 23% in o To meet AfP goals, per capita growth needs to increase from 1.2 to 4.8% annually, which means overall GDP must grow around 9% and growth must remain “pro-poor.”

11 o Overall from 2003 to 2011, national inequality levels have decreased. The Gini coefficient decreased from 0.39 in 2003 to 0.32 in o Inequality decreased in both Freetown and rural areas, but increased in urban areas outside of Freetown. o The overall decrease in inequality can largely be attributed to measured fall in prosperity in Freetown, and by rural areas catching up with urban areas generally.

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13 o Despite a recent sharp fall in the fertility rate, Sierra Leone remains a very young country and will face demographic challenges in coming years. Population Growth (% annual)Population Pyramid

14 o In urban areas, male and female headed households are equally likely to be poor, but in rural areas, female headed households are less likely to be poor.

15 o Agriculture remains the dominant livelihood throughout the majority of Sierra Leone. o In 52.4 percent of households, the head listed agriculture as their main occupation. In rural areas, this percentage was 78.3 percent. o 55.5 percent of male-headed households versus 44.1 percent of female-headed households listed agriculture as their main occupation. o With the exception of Western, Kono, Kenema, and Bo districts, agriculture remains the main activity for household heads throughout the country.

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17 o Households in which agriculture is the primary occupation of the household head are poorer than other occupations. o The poverty headcount for agricultural households showed an 18.5 percent decrease from 74.6 in 2003 to 60.8 in 2011, while other households showed a 25.5 percent decrease from 41.2 to 30.7 percent.

18 o In 2011, 56 percent of adults over the age of 15 had never attended formal school. o Households with lower levels of education of the head were more likely to be poor.

19 Current enrollment indicators show mixed results.

20 Net primary enrollment

21 Gender parity in education has been achieved for younger children, but girls’ enrollment rates fall off sharply when women enter childbearing years.

22 Children in urban areas go to school earlier, stay in school longer, and are more likely to reach higher levels of education.

23 o Those in urban areas and those in the wealthier quintiles of consumption were more likely to be born in modern facilities. o These numbers have also increased for younger children, particularly since the passage of the Free Health Care Initiative.

24 o Access to public services varies by service and location. While nearly all households have a nearby primary school, rural areas have to travel much greater distances to reach a secondary school.

25 o Most of Sierra Leone was in the dark.

26 o Poverty and inequality have gone down in Sierra Leone in the post-war period, but growth rates must increase further to meet AfP targets. o The population was young and still predominantly agricultural. o The government faces challenges with delivering services, particularly to rural and remote populations.