Moving to Sierra Leone from Belgium

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Belgium to Sierra Leone — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Belgium to Sierra Leone, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Freetown averages 86°F vs 57°F in Brussels, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Sierra Leone

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Belgium and Sierra Leone stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
SL
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
SL
13.8

Belgium 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

BE
$7,489
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
SL
0.4

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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

BE
15.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
SL
0.2t

Belgium 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

BE
43.5
SL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
SL
0.5%

Belgium 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

BE
5.5%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
SL
$1,700

Belgium 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

BE
81.9 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
SL
73.4

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

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Freetown
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Freetown
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium 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.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

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

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Belgium

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

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?

With 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sierra Leone can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Belgium and Sierra Leone.

Is Sierra Leone safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Belgium?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Sierra Leone, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

The official language in Sierra Leone is English. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

Share this

At a Glance

BE SL
Population 11,847,338 8,692,606
Currency Euro (€) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages Dutch, French, German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +232
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112