Moving to Samoa from China

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from China to Samoa — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from China to Samoa, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Samoan. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Apia averages 86°F vs 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from China to Samoa, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
46 ↓ 8% vs 2015

people born in China live in Samoa · UN DESA

Who's moving to Samoa?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How China and Samoa stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CN
17.4
WS
9.6

China generally does better on safety, though Samoa leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CN
$1,487
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
WS
5.5

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa 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

CN
64.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
WS
1.6t

Samoa performs significantly better than China 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

CN
41.4
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

CN
73.0%
WS
78.0%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Samoa leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.7%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
WS
$6,000

China generally does better on employment & economy, though Samoa leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CN
76.1 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
WS
17.0

China generally does better on family life, though Samoa leads in education spending.

Data: State Administration of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Apia
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Apia
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

China passport

China passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa on Arrival
China passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Samoa.
Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting China

Visa Required
Samoa passport holders need a visa to enter China.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Samoa?

With 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Samoa can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in China and Samoa.

Is Samoa safe for expats?

China generally does better on safety, though Samoa leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to China?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 25.2 in China. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

What's the weather like in Samoa compared to China?

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN WS
Population 1,410,539,758 206,179
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages Chinese English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +86 +685
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110