Moving to Switzerland from Sierra Leone

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sierra Leone to Switzerland, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Zurich averages 55°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 Switzerland

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?

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

Moved in 2023
7 ↓ 42% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Switzerland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SL
2.2
CH
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SL
13.8
CH
2.4

Switzerland 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
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SL
1.3
CH
44.8

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland 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
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SL
0.2t
CH
3.8t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SL
0.0
CH
47.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SL
0.5%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland generally does better on infrastructure, though Sierra Leone leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SL
3.1%
CH
4.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SL
$846
CH
$114,769

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SL
62.0 yrs
CH
84.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SL
54.6
CH
3.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Sierra Leone across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), National Revenue Authority (2014), Swiss Federal Tax Administration (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Switzerland vs Sierra Leone

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Zurich Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Freetown Zurich
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Freetown Zurich
Jan 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Can you move from Sierra Leone to Switzerland?

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

Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

Switzerland passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Switzerland 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 Switzerland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Switzerland has 47.0 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 Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Sierra Leone across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.2 in Sierra Leone.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 1.3 in Sierra Leone. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Zurich is 55°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Zurich receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Sierra Leone, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

SL CH
Population 8,819,794 9,092,436
Currency Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages English French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +232 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number — 112