Moving to Sierra Leone from Australia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Australia to Sierra Leone? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Australia to Sierra Leone. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Freetown averages 86°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sierra Leone compared to Australia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AU
0.8
SL
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AU
4.5
SL
13.8

Australia performs better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AU
$7,691
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AU
39.8
SL
0.4

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AU
10.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AU
14.1t
SL
0.2t

Australia generally does better on environment, though Sierra Leone leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AU
35.1
SL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AU
4.6%
SL
0.5%

Australia generally does better on infrastructure, though Sierra Leone leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
3.7%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AU
$59,500
SL
$1,700

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Sierra Leone leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AU
83.1 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AU
3.0
SL
73.4

Australia generally does better on family life, though Sierra Leone leads in education spending.

Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Freetown Rain: 116.0 in/yr (2946 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Canberra Freetown
Jan–Mar 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Canberra Freetown
Jan 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Sierra Leone. To live, work, or study long-term in Sierra Leone, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sierra Leone's immigration authority.

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Australia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Sierra Leone passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sierra Leone?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sierra Leone: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sierra Leone offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sierra Leone safe for expats?

Australia performs better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Australia?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Sierra Leone, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).

What's the weather like in Sierra Leone compared to Australia?

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

Both Australia and Sierra Leone share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

AU SL
Population 26,141,369 8,692,606
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages English English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +61 +232
Time zones 8 1
Emergency number 000