Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Burkina Faso

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Burkina Faso to Sao Tome and Principe — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Burkina Faso to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Burkina Faso and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BF
27.8
ST
11.7

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BF
$224
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BF
1.5
ST
4.9

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso 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

BF
84.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BF
0.3t
ST
0.6t

Burkina Faso performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BF
0.1
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BF
7.8%
ST
1.9%

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BF
5.3%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BF
$2,500
ST
$5,500

Burkina Faso generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BF
63.4 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BF
49.4
ST
44.4

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on family life, though Burkina Faso leads in education spending.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Burkina Faso and Sao Tome and Principe. To live, work, or study long-term in Sao Tome and Principe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sao Tome and Principe's immigration authority.

Burkina Faso passport

Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Burkina Faso passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Burkina Faso

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Burkina Faso.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sao Tome and Principe?

With 2.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sao Tome and Principe can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Burkina Faso and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Burkina Faso?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Burkina Faso, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BF ST
Population 21,935,389 217,164
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages French Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +226 +239
Time zones 1 1