Moving to Samoa from Latvia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Latvia 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 50°F in Riga, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LV
3.6
WS
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LV
9.8
WS
9.6

Latvia 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

LV
$3,034
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LV
33.8
WS
5.5

Latvia 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

LV
40.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
WS
1.6t

Samoa performs significantly better than Latvia 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

LV
26.4
WS
0.8

Latvia performs better than Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LV
6.5%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$37,800
WS
$6,000

Latvia performs better than Samoa across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LV
75.9 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
4.8
WS
17.0

Latvia performs better than Samoa across all family life metrics.

Data: State Revenue Service, Latvia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Apia
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Riga Apia
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Latvia 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.

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Samoa

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

Samoa passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
Samoa passport holders can enter Latvia 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?

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?

Latvia 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 3.6 in Latvia.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Latvia?

Latvia 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 33.8 in Latvia. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.

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At a Glance

LV WS
Population 1,842,226 206,179
Currency Euro (€) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages Latvian English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +371 +685
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112