Moving to Japan from Sierra Leone
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.
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.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
How Sierra Leone and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sierra Leone generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Sierra Leone generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Sierra Leone leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
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.
Avg. annual high / low
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,
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 holder visiting Japan
Visa Required
Japan passport holder visiting Sierra Leone
Visa on ArrivalData: 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.