Moving to Sweden from Sierra Leone

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sierra Leone to Sweden, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 86°F in Freetown, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
25 ↑ 14% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Sweden?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SL
2.1
SE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SL
13.8
SE
2.1

Sweden 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
SE
$7,770
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SL
0.4
SE
71.5

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden 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
SE
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SL
0.2t
SE
3.6t

Sierra Leone generally does better on environment, though Sweden 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
SE
40.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SL
0.5%
SE
3.6%

Sierra Leone generally does better on infrastructure, though Sweden 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%
SE
7.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SL
$1,700
SE
$64,200

Sierra Leone generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden 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
SE
82.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SL
73.4
SE
2.3

Sweden 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

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Freetown Stockholm
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 69°/56°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 43°/36°F (6°/2°C)
View all months
Month Freetown Stockholm
Jan 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C)
Mar 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C)
Apr 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C)
May 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C)
Jul 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C)
Sep 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C)
Nov 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C)

Data: Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Sweden

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

Sweden passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Sweden 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 Sweden?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.4 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 Sweden safe for expats?

Sweden performs significantly better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Sierra Leone.

How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 0.4 in Sierra Leone. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.

What language do they speak in Sweden?

The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Sierra Leone, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

SL SE
Population 8,692,606 10,483,647
Currency Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages English Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +232 +46
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112