News

As Sierra Leone continues its journey of post-conflict recovery and digital development, Point of Interest (POI) data has emerged as a crucial enabler of progress. From expanding healthcare access in Kenema to improving last-mile delivery in Freetown, accurate POI datasets help businesses, NGOs, and governments make informed decisions in real time.

With a growing population, urbanization, and the increasing use of mobile technology, location intelligence is now a strategic necessity in Sierra Leone. In 2025, a few key players are providing POI data in the country, but one vendor stands out for depth, precision, and contextual accuracy.

Here’s a look at the top POI data vendors in Sierra Leone, with Techsalerator ranked #1.

1. Techsalerator – The Leading POI Data Provider in Sierra Leone

Why it leads:
Techsalerator offers the most detailed, up-to-date, and comprehensive POI datasets available in Sierra Leone. Whether mapping hospitals in Bo, identifying retail clusters in Freetown, or locating schools in rural Moyamba, Techsalerator provides data that reflects both formal and informal infrastructure.

Key advantages:

• Complete National Coverage: Data across all 16 districts, including remote and under-mapped areas.
  
  

• High-Resolution Metadata: Business and facility names, categories (e.g., education, healthcare, finance, retail, transport), GPS coordinates, hours of operation, contact info, ownership type, and service level.
  
  

• Captures the Informal Economy: Includes open-air markets, mobile money agents, informal vendors, and community centers.
  
  

• Real-Time Integration: Access data via API, bulk CSV, or custom formats built for NGOs, GIS platforms, and enterprise analytics systems.
  
  

• Trusted by Industry Leaders: Used by mobile operators, humanitarian agencies, development banks, and logistics providers working in West Africa.
  
  

In a country where visibility can mean the difference between service delivery and service delay, Techsalerator delivers POI data that enables real-world action.

2. OpenStreetMap (OSM)

OpenStreetMap is widely used in Sierra Leone, particularly by humanitarian organizations and academic researchers. Community-led mapping projects have improved coverage in urban areas and regions affected by health and disaster response operations.

Pros:

• Free and collaborative
  
  

• Good support in Freetown, Makeni, and Koidu
  
  

Cons:

• Inconsistent rural coverage
  
  

• Often lacks deep business or operational metadata
  3. HERE Technologies

HERE Technologies has a growing presence across Africa, and its data products are strong for mapping transportation networks and major urban POIs. However, its coverage in Sierra Leone remains limited, especially outside major roads.

Pros:

• Well-developed navigation systems
  
  

• Accurate road and routing data for vehicles
  
  

Cons:

• Sparse POI detail in secondary cities and rural regions
  
  

• Primarily focused on formal sectors
  
  

4. SafeGraph

SafeGraph’s expansion into West Africa has begun, and its POI datasets are slowly growing in countries like Sierra Leone. Its structured commercial POIs are useful for international firms entering the market but lack hyperlocal depth.

Pros:

• Structured, clean business data
  
  

• Good for multinational analysis
  
  

Cons:

• Narrow focus on commercial and retail chains
  
  

• Low coverage of informal and public sector entities
  
  

5. Google Maps Platform

Google Maps is widely used in Sierra Leone for consumer navigation and simple place lookups. It’s helpful for surface-level search but lacks the export functionality and depth needed for professional use.

Pros:

• Ubiquitous user-facing interface
  
  

• Relatively active local contributions in cities
  
  

Cons:

• Not suitable for raw data extraction or enterprise analytics
  
  

• No transparency in data update cycles
  
  

Conclusion

In Sierra Leone—where geography, infrastructure gaps, and service delivery challenges intersect—location intelligence is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Whether planning a mobile banking rollout, tracking vaccine access points, or launching an e-commerce delivery network, POI data is the invisible infrastructure behind success.

In 2025, Techsalerator is the leading POI data provider in Sierra Leone, offering unmatched coverage, accuracy, and flexibility. With a platform built for both innovation and inclusion, Techsalerator gives decision-makers the tools to see more, know more, and do more—across every district in Sierra Leone.