Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Jamaica

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Jamaica to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JM
53.3
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JM
17.8
ST
11.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JM
$869
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

JM
5.5
ST
4.9

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

JM
22.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JM
2.8t
ST
0.6t

Jamaica generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JM
15.0
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JM
12.4%
ST
1.9%

Jamaica generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JM
4.4%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JM
$10,300
ST
$5,500

Jamaica performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JM
75.8 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JM
11.2
ST
44.4

Jamaica generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in literacy rate.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Jamaica 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.

Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Jamaica 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 Jamaica

Visa Required
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need a visa to enter Jamaica.

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 Jamaica and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 53.3 in Jamaica.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 5.5 in Jamaica. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jamaica: 74).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.

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At a Glance

JM ST
Population 2,818,596 217,164
Currency Jamaican Dollar (JMD) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English, Jamaican Patois Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119