By: Stefania Galli & Klas Rönnbäck

This article explores land distribution and the evolution of land inequality in Sierra Leone’s Colony from its foundation until 1831. Initially marked by low land inequality, Sierra Leone saw a significant increase in inequality over time, attributed to shifts in colonial policies that allowed more liberal land appropriation by later settlers. The study employs data on settler landholdings across three benchmark years, revealing that the Colony’s foundation aimed at equitable resource distribution. However, these ideals gradually gave way to practices that facilitated greater land inequality, shedding light on the complex dynamics of resource distribution and their implications for Sierra Leone’s historical and contemporary struggles .