Moving to Japan from Sierra Leone

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sierra Leone to Japan, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 86°F in Freetown, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
39 ↑ 56% vs 2022

people moved from Sierra Leone to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Sierra Leone and Japan 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
JP
0.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SL
13.8
JP
2.7

Japan 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
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SL
0.4
JP
26.1

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SL
0.2t
JP
7.8t

Sierra Leone generally does better on environment, though Japan 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
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SL
0.5%
JP
36.0%

Sierra Leone generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan 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%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SL
$1,700
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Sierra Leone leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SL
58.8 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SL
73.4
JP
1.9

Japan 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

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Freetown Tokyo
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Freetown Tokyo
Jan 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Japan

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

Japan passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Japan 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 Japan?

With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan 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 Japan.

Is Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Sierra Leone.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 0.4 in Sierra Leone. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Sierra Leone, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

SL JP
Population 8,692,606 124,214,766
Currency Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages English Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +232 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110