Moving to Sierra Leone from Nigeria

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Nigeria to Sierra Leone — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Nigeria to Sierra Leone.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Nigeria to Sierra Leone, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
2,176 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in Nigeria 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Nigeria to Sierra Leone.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

NG
21.7
SL
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NG
17.2
SL
13.8

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
SL
0.4

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

NG
77.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
SL
0.2t

Nigeria 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

NG
0.0
SL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
SL
0.5%

Nigeria 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

NG
3.1%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
SL
$1,700

Nigeria performs better than Sierra Leone across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
SL
73.4

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

Data: Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja Freetown
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Abuja Freetown
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria 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.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa Free
Nigeria passport holders can enter Sierra Leone without a visa.
Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Free
Sierra Leone passport holders can enter Nigeria without a visa.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sierra Leone has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Sierra Leone safe for expats?

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Nigeria?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Sierra Leone, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

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

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At a Glance

NG SL
Population 225,082,083 8,692,606
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +234 +232
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112