Sierra Leone

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

In 2024, Sierra Leone was the world’s 3rd third-ranked producer of rutile and the ninth-ranked producer of gem diamond and zirconium mineral concentrates, accounting for 17%, 1.9%, and 1% of global production, respectively. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included bauxite, cement (hydraulic), diamond, gold, iron ore, and titanium minerals (ilmenite and leucoxene). Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). In 2023, the last latest year for which data were available, production of the mineral industry in the country contributed about 5.3% to Sierra Leone’s gross domestic product (GDP). Sierra Leone exported gem diamond mainly to India, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Thailand (International Monetary Fund, 2024; EITI 2025, p. 5–6; Ewing, 2026; OEC, 2026; Johnston, 2026; Olson, 2026). 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Sierra Leone is provided by the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022, which defines the institutional roles and responsibilities of the National Minerals Agency (NMA). The Act also requires that the identities of natural persons or beneficial owners with 5% or more shares in any company operating in the mining sector in Sierra Leone should be disclosed. The Act further requires the mandatory disclosure of political actors, and the right for the Government of Sierra Leone to acquire a 10% free carried interest in new companies registered to operate in the mining sector. Most mineral commodities in Sierra Leone were produced by privately owned companies. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities.  More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports — International — Africa and the Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/afric… (EITI, 2025, p. 5–8).   

Commodity Review 

Diamond.—In August, a 391.45-carat diamond was discovered in the Meya Mine, part of the Koidu mine complex in the Kono District. Sierra Leone’s National Minerals Agency said that the diamond was originally part of a 514.99-carat stone. In 2023, Germinate Sierra Leone Ltd. and Trustco Group from of Namibia sold a combined 70% share in Meya Mining Inc. to Sterling Global Trading from of the United Arab Emirates in a \$50 million transaction. It was stated that the companies aimed to expand production at the Meya-Koidu deposit with the funds from the agreement (Rappaport, 2024; EITI 2025, p. 5–6). 

Titanium (Rutile) and Zirconium.—In 2024 Sierra Leone’s rutile production was an estimated at 84,000 80,000 metric tons (t), which placed Sierra Leone as the 3^rd third-ranked producer in the world, and zirconium mineral concentrates (zircon) production at 25,000 t, which placed it as the 9^th ninth-ranked producer in the world. All rutile and zirconium production come was from the Lanti and the Gangama Mines, operated by Sierra Rutile Ltd. and owned by Sierra Rutile Holdings Limited of Australia (Facilities table). 

References Cited 

• EITI, 2025, Sierra Leone 2022-2023: EITI report: Oslo, Norway, EITI, January 24, 18 p. (Accessed December 10, 2025, at https://sleiti.gov.sl/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Sierra-Leone-Summary-E….) 

• Ewing, S.M., 2026, Titanium mineral concentrates: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 198–199. 

• International Monetary Fund, 2024, Country data, Sierra Leone: Washington, DC, International Monetary Fund. (Accessed December 5, 2025, at https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/SLE#countrydata.) 

• Johnston, S.N., 2026, Zirconium and hafnium: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 214–215. 

• Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone, 2010, The Mines and Minerals Act—2009: Freetown, Sierra Leone, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone, 135 p. (Accessed December 10, 2025, at https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2009-12.pdf.) 

• OEC, 2026, Diamonds in Sierra Leone: Observatory for Economic Complexity. (Accessed June 16, 2026, at https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-product/diamonds/reporter/sle). 

• Olson, D.W., 2026, Gemstones: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 86–87. 

• Rappaport, 2024, Sierra Leone’s Meya Mine yields 391ct. rough: Rappaport, August 28. (Accessed December 7, 2025, at https://rapaport.com/news/sierra-leones-meya-mine-yields-391ct-rough/.)