Moving to Samoa from Ethiopia

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ethiopia to Samoa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ethiopia 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 74°F in Addis Ababa, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ethiopia to Samoa.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

per 100,000 people per year

ET
8.6
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
WS
9.6

Samoa performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
WS
5.5

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ET
46.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
WS
1.6t

Ethiopia generally does better on environment, though Samoa leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ET
0.5
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

ET
17.0%
WS
78.0%

Samoa performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
WS
$6,000

Samoa generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
WS
17.0

Samoa performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Data: Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa Apia
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa Apia
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ethiopia 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.

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Samoa

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

Samoa passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Samoa passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Ethiopia.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Samoa has 0.8 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 Samoa safe for expats?

Samoa performs significantly better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Ethiopia.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

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

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

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At a Glance

ET WS
Population 113,656,596 206,179
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages Amharic English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +251 +685
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911