Moving to Ireland from Sierra Leone

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sierra Leone to Ireland. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 86°F in Freetown, making it significantly cooler.

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

Get free moving quotes to Ireland

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

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
223 ↑ 14% vs 2015

people born in Sierra Leone live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SL
2.1
IE
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SL
13.8
IE
2.8

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SL
$159
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SL
0.4
IE
40.6

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland 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
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SL
0.2t
IE
6.0t

Sierra Leone generally does better on environment, though Ireland 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
IE
32.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SL
0.5%
IE
22.2%

Ireland 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

SL
3.2%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SL
$1,700
IE
$115,600

Sierra Leone generally does better on employment & economy, though Ireland 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
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SL
73.4
IE
3.5

Ireland 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

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Freetown Dublin
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Freetown Dublin
Jan 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Ireland 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 Ireland?

With 32.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland 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 Ireland.

Is Ireland safe for expats?

Ireland performs significantly better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Sierra Leone.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 0.4 in Sierra Leone. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Sierra Leone, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

SL IE
Population 8,692,606 5,275,004
Currency Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) Euro (€)
Languages English English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +232 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112