Moving to Samoa from France

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from France to Samoa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from France 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 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from France to Samoa.

Living there in 2020
6 ↓ 25% vs 2015

people born in France 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

The numbers behind daily life in Samoa compared to France.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.3
WS
6.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
WS
9.6

France performs better than Samoa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
WS
$475
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
32.8
WS
5.6

France 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

FR
10.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
WS
1.6t

France generally does better on environment, though Samoa leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
48.9
WS
0.9
Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

FR
88.7%
WS
75.3%

France performs better than Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.5%
WS
5.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$48,986
WS
$5,873

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

FR
83.0 yrs
WS
71.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.4
WS
12.3

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

Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (2016), Ministry of Revenue, Samoa (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Apia
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Paris Apia
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Samoa

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Samoa without a visa.
Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Samoa passport holders can enter France without a 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 Samoa?

Connectivity is usually fine (Samoa: 0.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Samoa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Samoa safe for expats?

France performs better than Samoa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Samoa is 6.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in France.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 32.8 in France. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR WS
Population 68,720,337 219,306
Currency Euro (€) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages French English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +33 +685
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 —