Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Gambia

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What to Expect

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

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Gambia 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

GM
22.0
ST
11.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GM
$94
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

GM
1.0
ST
4.9

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

GM
90.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GM
0.2t
ST
0.6t

Gambia generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe 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

GM
0.2
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GM
2.2%
ST
1.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GM
6.5%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GM
$2,900
ST
$5,500

Gambia 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

GM
67.6 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GM
37.2
ST
44.4

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Gambia 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.

Gambia passport

Gambia passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Gambia 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 Gambia

Visa Free
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can enter Gambia 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 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 Gambia and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Gambia?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 1.0 in Gambia. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Gambia: 46).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Gambia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GM ST
Population 2,413,403 217,164
Currency Gambian Dalasi (GMD) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +220 +239
Time zones 1 1