Moving to Gabon from Sierra Leone

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sierra Leone to Gabon, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

Get free moving quotes to Gabon

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SL
13.8
GA
12.5

Gabon performs significantly 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

SL
$159
GA
$673
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SL
0.4
GA
4.8

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

SL
97.0
GA
53.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SL
0.2t
GA
2.0t

Sierra Leone generally does better on environment, though Gabon leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SL
0.0
GA
3.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SL
0.5%
GA
0.5%

Sierra Leone generally does better on infrastructure, though Gabon leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SL
3.2%
GA
20.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SL
$1,700
GA
$19,800

Sierra Leone generally does better on employment & economy, though Gabon leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SL
58.8 yrs
GA
69.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SL
73.4
GA
28.6

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

Data: National Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Libreville Rain: 111.9 in/yr (2842 mm)
83° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Freetown Libreville
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 81°/72°F (27°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 83°/74°F (28°/23°C)
View all months
Month Freetown Libreville
Jan 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) 85°/75°F (29.5°/24.1°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C)
Mar 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 86°/75°F (30.2°/23.9°C)
Apr 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.1°C)
May 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 85°/75°F (29.4°/24.0°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) 82°/74°F (27.6°/23.2°C)
Jul 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) 80°/72°F (26.4°/22.1°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) 80°/71°F (26.8°/21.8°C)
Sep 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) 82°/74°F (27.5°/23.2°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 82°/74°F (28.0°/23.4°C)
Nov 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.4°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.4°C)

Data: Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Gabon

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sierra Leone passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Gabon.
Gabon passport

Gabon passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Gabon?

With 3.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Gabon can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Sierra Leone and Gabon.

Is Gabon safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Gabon compared to Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gabon leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Gabon, compared to 0.4 in Sierra Leone. Gabon scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Libreville is 83°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Libreville receives around 111.9 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.

What language do they speak in Gabon?

The official language in Gabon is French. In Sierra Leone, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

SL GA
Population 8,692,606 2,340,613
Currency Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA)
Languages English French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +232 +241
Time zones 1 1