Moving to Zambia from Sierra Leone
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Sierra Leone to Zambia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Sierra Leone to Zambia. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Sierra Leone to Zambia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sierra Leone performs better than Zambia 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in healthcare spending per person.
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 Zambia leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Zambia generally does better on infrastructure, though Sierra Leone leads in water stress level.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Sierra Leone generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in gdp per capita.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Zambia 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 | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Freetown | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) |
| Mar | 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) |
| May | 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) |
| Jun | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) |
| Aug | 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) |
| Oct | 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) |
| Nov | 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) |
Data:
Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency,
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sierra Leone and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.
Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Zambia 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 Zambia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 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 Zambia safe for expats?
Sierra Leone performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Sierra Leone.
How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Sierra Leone?
Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 0.4 in Sierra Leone. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sierra Leone: 41).
What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Sierra Leone?
The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 86°F in Freetown. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Freetown gets 116.0 in.
What language do they speak in Zambia?
Both Sierra Leone and Zambia share the same official language: English.
