Moving to Sierra Leone from Timor-Leste

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Timor-Leste to Sierra Leone — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Timor-Leste to Sierra Leone, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Timor-Leste and Sierra Leone stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

TL
4.1
SL
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TL
12.0
SL
13.8

Timor-Leste generally does better on safety, though Sierra Leone leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TL
$461
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TL
7.7
SL
0.4

Timor-Leste 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

TL
61.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TL
0.5t
SL
0.2t

Timor-Leste 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

TL
0.0
SL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TL
28.3%
SL
0.5%

Timor-Leste 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

TL
1.5%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TL
$4,600
SL
$1,700

Timor-Leste performs better than Sierra Leone across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TL
69.9 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TL
33.7
SL
73.4

Timor-Leste generally does better on family life, though Sierra Leone leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste 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.

Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
Timor-Leste passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
Sierra Leone passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.

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?

With 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sierra Leone can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Timor-Leste and Sierra Leone.

Is Sierra Leone safe for expats?

Timor-Leste generally does better on safety, though Sierra Leone leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.1 in Timor-Leste.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste 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 7.7 in Timor-Leste. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

The official language in Sierra Leone is English. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.

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At a Glance

TL SL
Population 1,445,006 8,692,606
Currency United States Dollar ($) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages Portuguese, Tetum English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +670 +232
Time zones 1 1