Moving to Sierra Leone from Illinois

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Illinois to Sierra Leone. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Freetown averages 86°F vs 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Illinois to Sierra Leone, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
152 ↓ 15% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Sierra Leone · UN DESA

Who's moving to Sierra Leone?

Top countries of origin for Sierra Leone's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

IL
34.6%
SL
8.7%

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

IL
89.6%
SL
12.7%

Illinois performs better than Sierra Leone across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IL
4.8%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$70,691
SL
$1,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
76.8 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs

Illinois performs better than Sierra Leone across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Springfield Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
63° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Springfield Freetown
Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Springfield Freetown
Jan 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

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

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting United States

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

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?

Working remotely from Sierra Leone's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Sierra Leone.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Illinois?

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

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

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At a Glance

SL
Population 12,830,632 8,692,606
Currency United States Dollar ($) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +232
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911