Magburaka is the capital and largest city of Tonkolili District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is the second largest city in the Northern Province after Makeni and the 6th largest city in Sierra Leone with a population of 16,313 in the 2004 census. Current estimates of the population vary from under 15,000 to as high as 100,000, though this high estimate probably includes the surrounding district. It is located at around 8°43′1″N 11°56′36″W / 8.71694°N 11.94333°W / 8.71694; -11.94333, along the Rokel River. Magburaka lies just about 26 miles (42 km) drive south-west of Makeni, the economic center of Northern Sierra Leone and about 80 miles (135 km) drive east of the country's capital Freetown.