Moving to Sierra Leone from Swaziland

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Swaziland to Sierra Leone? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Swaziland to Sierra Leone. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Freetown averages 86°F vs 72°F in Lobamba, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sierra Leone compared to Swaziland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
12.7
SL
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
24.7
SL
13.8

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Swaziland across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SZ
$922
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SZ
15.9
SL
0.4

Swaziland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SZ
66.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SZ
0.9t
SL
0.2t

Swaziland generally does better on environment, though Sierra Leone leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SZ
2.3
SL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SZ
77.6%
SL
0.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SZ
37.6%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SZ
$10,600
SL
$1,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SZ
59.7 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SZ
39.6
SL
73.4

Swaziland generally does better on family life, though Sierra Leone leads in education spending.

Data: Swaziland Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lobamba Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
72° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lobamba Freetown
Jan–Mar 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/46°F (21°/8°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/44°F (21°/7°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Lobamba Freetown
Jan 77°/59°F (24.9°/14.9°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 76°/58°F (24.5°/14.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 75°/56°F (24.1°/13.4°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 73°/52°F (22.6°/11.0°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 71°/46°F (21.4°/7.9°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 67°/40°F (19.3°/4.7°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 68°/40°F (19.8°/4.6°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 70°/44°F (21.3°/6.6°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 74°/49°F (23.2°/9.5°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 73°/52°F (22.8°/11.3°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 72°/55°F (22.5°/12.9°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: Eswatini Meteorological Service Eswatini Meteorological Service, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Swaziland passport

Swaziland passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Swaziland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Swaziland

Visa Free
Sierra Leone passport holders can enter Swaziland without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sierra Leone?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sierra Leone: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sierra Leone offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sierra Leone safe for expats?

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Swaziland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.7 in Swaziland.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Swaziland?

Swaziland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Sierra Leone, compared to 15.9 in Swaziland. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Swaziland: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 72°F in Lobamba. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lobamba gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

The official language in Sierra Leone is English. In Swaziland, the official languages are English and Swazi.

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At a Glance

SZ SL
Population 1,121,761 8,692,606
Currency Swazi Lilangeni (SZL) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages English, Swazi English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +268 +232
Time zones 1 1