Moving to Sierra Leone from Zambia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zambia to Sierra Leone. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
17 ↓ 6% vs 2015

people born in Zambia live in Sierra Leone · UN DESA

Who's moving to Sierra Leone?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
SL
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
SL
13.8

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
SL
0.4

Zambia 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

ZM
50.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
SL
0.2t

Zambia 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

ZM
0.4
SL
0.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
SL
0.5%

Zambia 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

ZM
5.9%
SL
3.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
SL
$1,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
SL
58.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
SL
73.4

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

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Freetown
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Freetown
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

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

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sierra Leone passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Zambia.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sierra Leone has 0.0 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 Sierra Leone safe for expats?

Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Zambia?

Zambia 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 2.6 in Zambia. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

Both Zambia and Sierra Leone share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

ZM SL
Population 19,642,123 8,692,606
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages English English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +232
Time zones 1 1