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Sierra Leone
Africa
Lucky Nomads World Index
51.98 / 100
Global rank
#211
Corporate tax
25%
Personal tax
30%
Lucky Nomads Proprietary Indices
22 scoring dimensions scored independently using a deterministic methodology built on primary sources and structured analytical inference.
- SafetyShield Index6.0 / 10
- Affordability Index8.0 / 10
- Entry Ease Index3.7 / 10
- Tax Freedom Index5.7 / 10
- WiFi Index4.0 / 10
- Admin Ease Index3.5 / 10
- Healthcare Index3.4 / 10
- City Comfort Index3.2 / 10
- WeatherComfort Index5.5 / 10
- Banking Index4.5 / 10
- GeoStability Index6.0 / 10
- Justice & Order Index5.1 / 10
- Quality of Life Index4.1 / 10
- Open Society Index4.8 / 10
- Flight Index2.1 / 10
- Environmental Quality Index6.0 / 10
- English Index6.0 / 10
- Wealth Protection Index6.7 / 10
- AI Access Index5.1 / 10
- Economic Openness Index4.3 / 10
- Market Depth Index5.0 / 10
- ClimateShield Index7.0 / 10
Country snapshot
- Capital
- Freetown
- Population (approx.)
- 8,400,000
- Area (km²)
- 71,740 km²
- Currency code (ISO 4217)
- SLE
- Currency name
- Sierra Leonean leone
- Main airport IATA code
- FNA
- Airport name
- Lungi International Airport
General facts
- Minimum monthly cost
- From $884/month
- Main languages
- English
- Jurisdiction type
- Country
- Region
- Africa
- Web TLD
- .sl
- Phone calling code
- +232
Web TLD and phone codes are general references and can differ for territories or special numbering plans.
Tax system
- Marginal CIT (corporate income tax)
- 25%Very highWorldwide
- Marginal PIT (personal income tax)
- 30%HighWorldwide
Corporate taxation basis: Worldwide. The country generally taxes worldwide income of resident companies.
Resident companies (incorporated in Sierra Leone, with effective management and control in Sierra Leone, or with majority of operations in Sierra Leone) are taxed on worldwide income. Non-resident companies are taxed only on Sierra Leone-source income at the same 25 percent rate. No participation exemption or foreign PE exemption available by election.
Standard corporate income tax rate is 25 percent (Finance Act 2022, reduced from 30 percent). Manufacturing entities established exclusively outside the Western Area benefit from a permanent reduced 15 percent rate (Finance Act 2021). The 2026 Budget Statement of 28 November 2025 proposes raising the standard CIT to 30 percent to align with the regional average and the top individual marginal rate, pending enactment in the Finance Act 2026.
Personal income tax basis. Worldwide. Resident individuals are generally taxable on their worldwide income, subject to relief under applicable tax treaties.
Residents taxed on worldwide income, but Section 11 of the Income Tax Act 2000 grants non-domiciled individuals an automatic remittance basis for up to 4 years from first becoming Sierra Leone tax resident. Only Sierra Leone-source income plus foreign income physically remitted to Sierra Leone is taxable. Sierra Leone is not a CRS participating jurisdiction.
Progressive 4-bracket schedule with a 30 percent top marginal rate (Income Tax Act 2000 as amended, post-2020 4-bracket reform). The top rate applies on monthly chargeable employment income above approximately SLE 2,400. Non-residents face a flat 25 percent withholding tax on Sierra Leone-source employment income.
Tax percentages here are editorial reference figures for comparison, not individualized tax advice.
Special tax regimes
For companies
Rice and Tree Crop Farming 10-Year Income Tax Exemption
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act provides a 10-year income tax exemption for businesses engaged in rice farming and tree crop farming, specifically…
Large-Scale Agribusiness Tax Exemption Regime
AvailableSierra Leone agribusiness regime provides full corporate income tax exemption plus 50 percent withholding tax reduction on dividends for foreign…
Fish Farming 5-Year Income Tax Exemption
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act exempts from income tax for 5 years (a) income derived from any fish farming activity, and (b) 50 percent of any…
Investment Income Tax Exemption for 20 percent Local Ownership Businesses
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act exempts from corporate income tax for 5 or 10 years any business registered in Sierra Leone with at least 20 percent…
Reduced CIT 15 percent for Manufacturing Outside Western Area
AvailableSierra Leone Finance Act 2021 reduced the corporate income tax rate from 25 percent to 15 percent for manufacturing entities or factories whose…
Poultry and Livestock 3-Year Income Tax Exemption
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act exempts from income tax for 3 years the income derived from investments in poultry, livestock, and ruminants business,…
Renewable Energy and Photovoltaic 3-Year Import Duty Exemption
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act and Customs framework grant a 3-year duty-free import privilege for photovoltaic system equipment, low-energy or…
Special Economic Zone 3-Year Corporate Tax Holiday
AvailableSierra Leone Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy grants businesses operating within designated zones a 3-year corporate income tax holiday, duty and…
Tourism Sector Income Tax Exemption with Capital Cap
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act exempts from income tax any undertaking in tourism for up to 5 years from commencement of operations, capped in value at…
For individuals
Temporarily Resident Taxpayer Remittance Basis
AvailableSierra Leone Income Tax Act Section 11 grants non-domiciled individuals a remittance basis of taxation for up to 4 years from first becoming Sierra…
You either qualify for Sierra Leone's special tax regimes, or you don't. GeoCompass determines your eligibility, highlights the applicable conditions, and helps estimate your potential tax exposure.
Check my eligibilityVisa and mobility
Your access
Visa need and length of stay for Sierra Leone. Saved on your device.
Overview
- Citizenship by investment
Available
Sierra Leone Citizenship by Investment (GO-FOR-GOLD / Fast-Track Naturalization)
- Residence by investment
Available
- Remote work visa (digital nomad visa)
Not currently available
Programmes
Sierra Leone lists several residency and mobility routes across residence by investment, business founder routes, work (employer sponsored), family and dependant routes, and student and graduate routes. Lucky Nomads tracks these programmes as editorial reference points. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass against your exact profile.
5 programmes listed · 5 are marked available in our editorial review
Residence by investment
1 programmeCapital, property, fund, or declared investment routes that can lead to longer-term residence.
- Available
GO-FOR-GOLD Permanent Residency Program
Business founder routes
1 programmeFounder, entrepreneur, or company-linked pathways for people building a business locally.
- Available
Resident Permit (Business / Self-Employed)
Work (employer sponsored)
1 programmeEmployer-linked permits and skilled employment passes for hired professionals.
- Available
Resident Permit (Employment)
Family and dependant routes
1 programmeSpouse, dependant, and family reunion style permits.
- Available
Resident Permit (Dependent)
Student and graduate routes
1 programmeStudy-linked permits and post-study transition routes.
- Available
Resident Permit (Student)
Not all residency routes are accessible. Some require minimum income, investment thresholds, local substance, or strict eligibility conditions. GeoCompass evaluates which options you can actually secure in Sierra Leone.
Evaluate my residency optionsVisa and programme labels reflect editorial research, not individualized legal advice. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass. Always confirm rules with official government sources before you plan a move.
Dimensions breakdown
Strongest dimensions
- Affordability Index8.0 / 10Very affordable cost of living
- ClimateShield Index7.0 / 10Strong climateshield index
- Wealth Protection Index6.7 / 10Moderate wealth protection index
Weakest dimensions
- Flight Index2.1 / 10
- City Comfort Index3.2 / 10
Published ranks by index
One row per leaderboard we publish (the composite index plus each proprietary dimension). A rank appears only when this country is currently in the published top 10 for that list. Open a row to see the full ranking. Hover an index name for the same short definition as elsewhere on the site.
This jurisdiction is not in the published top 10 on any of these lists right now.
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Founder, Lucky Nomads · Wealth manager
Researched from official sources, leading global indices and Lucky Nomads' own scoring.
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