Guinea vs. Sierra Leone
Geography
| Guinea | Sierra Leone | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia |
| Geographic coordinates | 11 00 N, 10 00 W | 8 30 N, 11 30 W |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km | total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania | slightly smaller than South Carolina |
| Land boundaries | total: 4,046 km border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km, Guinea-Bissau 421 km, Liberia 590 km, Mali 1062 km, Senegal 363 km, Sierra Leone 794 km | total: 1,093 km border countries (2): Guinea 794 km, Liberia 299 km |
| Coastline | 320 km | 402 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm |
| Climate | generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds | tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) |
| Terrain | generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior | coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 472 m | highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 279 m |
| Natural resources | bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt | diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
| Land use | agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 56.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 23.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.5% (2018 est.) forest: 37.5% (2018 est.) other: 6.3% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 950 sq km (2012) | 300 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season | dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography - note | the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands | rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa |
| Total renewable water resources | 226 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 160 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map | population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated as shown on this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
