Moving to Sierra Leone from Zimbabwe
What to Expect
Considering a move from Zimbabwe to Sierra Leone? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Zimbabwe to Sierra Leone. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sierra Leone compared to Zimbabwe.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sierra Leone performs significantly better than Zimbabwe 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Zimbabwe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Zimbabwe generally does better on environment, though Sierra Leone leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Zimbabwe 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
Sierra Leone generally does better on employment & economy, though Zimbabwe 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
Zimbabwe generally does better on family life, though Sierra Leone leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Harare | Freetown |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) | 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 87°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) | 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) | 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) |
View all months
| Month | Harare | Freetown |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) | 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C) |
| Feb | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) | 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C) |
| Mar | 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) | 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) |
| Apr | 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) | 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C) |
| May | 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) | 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C) |
| Jun | 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C) |
| Jul | 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) | 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C) |
| Aug | 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) | 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C) |
| Sep | 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) | 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) | 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) |
| Nov | 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) | 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C) |
| Dec | 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) | 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Services Department,
Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe 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.
Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Sierra Leone
Visa on Arrival
Sierra Leone passport holder visiting Zimbabwe
Visa Online (e-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 Zimbabwe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.7 in Zimbabwe.
How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sierra Leone leads in suicide rate. There are 0.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Sierra Leone, compared to 1.7 in Zimbabwe. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).
What's the weather like in Sierra Leone compared to Zimbabwe?
The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.
What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?
The official language in Sierra Leone is English. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.
Compare further: Zimbabwe vs. Sierra Leone
At a Glance
ZW
|
SL
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,121,004 | 8,692,606 |
| Currency | Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) | Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) |
| Languages | Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language | English |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +263 | +232 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 999 | — |